The internet and other new forms of gambling have not led to an increase in people having a bet in the UK, a report has found.

According to the Gambling Commission survey, the numbers of people gambling dropped from 72 per cent in 1999 to 68 per cent in 2007.

The British Gambling Prevalence Survey also shows that there has been little change to the number of problem gamblers in the UK, with around 0.6 per cent of the adult population (equivalent to about 250,000 people) being affected - the same level as in 1999.

The study, carried out by the National Centre for Social Research, questioned more than 9,000 people between September 2006 and March 2007 about 17 types of gambling - from horse racing to slot machines.

Its aim is to measure participation in gambling, estimate the level of problem gambling and the factors associated with it and to explore the public's attitude towards gambling.

Peter Dean, Gambling Commission: "We remain concerned that there are still over a quarter of a million adults who are problem gamblers."

Peter Dean, the Gambling Commission's chairman, said he had been expecting an increase in the number of gamblers, and the amount of problem gambling.

He said: "The key message is that overall there has been surprisingly little change either in the number of gambling participants or to the number of problem gamblers since 1999."

However, Mr Dean added that he would like to see the number of problem gamblers reduced.

"We remain concerned that there are still over a quarter of a million adults who are problem gamblers," Mr Dean said.

"The challenge, for us and for the industry, is to tackle this."

The National Lottery remained the most popular form of gambling, followed by scratch cards, horse racing and slot machines.

Surprisingly, just six per cent of those questioned had used the internet to gamble, while only 4 per cent gambled in a casino.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said problem gambling had to be tackled.

"While the report shows that problem gambling still only affects a small minority of people, it does remain a serious issue and something that has to be addressed," he said.