By ARNOLD KNIGHTLY
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Nearly 0.6 percent of Britain's adult population suffers from problem gambling, according to a government-commissioned study.

The report, released last week by Britian's Gambling Commission, said the number represents 250,000 people, about the same number as reported in a similar study in 1999.

The study comes while the government and citizens debate the merits of allowing larger casinos into the United Kingdom.

Britain's new prime minister, Gordon Brown, has indicated he does not support a large super casino proposed for Manchester, England, earlier this year.

The new study found that 68 percent of the adult population, 32 million people, had participated in some form of gambling within the past year.

Nearly 57 percent of adults who gambled confined the activity to the national lottery.