New research commissioned by Gamble Aware reveals that over half of gamblers in Great Britain say they gambled the same amount as they would normally have done during early lockdown.
A report for the Gambling Commission called “Gambling Behaviour in Great Britain” published in 2018 showed that the number of adult problem gamblers in Great Britain was approximately 340,000 according to combined data from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the Problem Gambling Severity Index. Read the report here.
- GAMBLING BEHAVIOUR IN BRITAIN: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS INTRODUCTION This report presents results from the National Centre’s British Gambling Prevalence Survey. This is the first nationally representative survey of its kind in this country, and its overall aim is to provide baseline data on adult gambling behaviour in Britain.
- The latest annual survey by the Gambling Commission to explore gambling behaviour among young people in Great Britain found that 14% of 11-16 year olds had spent their own money on a gambling activity in the week prior to taking part in the study.
- This report provides information about gambling behaviour in Great Britain using data combined from the Health Survey for England (HSE) 2016, the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) 2016 and the Wales.
The study, undertaken by YouGov earlier this year, shows that 52% of gamblers carried on as normal from March to May.
A total of 41% had gambled less than normal, with 4% stating that they had gambled more often than usual.
Actioned by Gamble Aware, an independent charity that champions a public health approach to preventing gambling harms, the research also shows that 20% of problem gamblers say they gambled more during the period.
Over half of such problem gamblers – those with a Problem Gambling Severity Index score of 8+ – referenced boredom as a reason for their actions.
Overall gambling rates did, however, decline by 10% between October 2019 and May 2020, with the exception of online casino games, which rose from 1.5% to 2.3%.
“The findings published today show there is a concerning lack of awareness and use of the gambling treatment and services which exist to provide support and care,” said Sian Griffiths, Deputy Chair of GambleAware.
“While gambling rates seem not to have increased during lockdown, it is alarming that gambling participation amongst those who are gambling is increasing amongst the most vulnerable groups.”
The Gambling Commission and government need to do more to ensure that regulation can protect gamblers effectively, according to a new NAO report.
There are an estimated 1.8 million ‘at risk’ gamblers and 395,000 ‘problem’ gamblers – including 55,000 children, some of whom are as young as 11.1
Gambling addiction can lead to mental health problems, relationship difficulties, large-scale financial loss and, in some cases, crime or suicide.
The NAO’s report looks at regulation of an industry which now yields over £11.3 billion2 for gambling operators every year. The Gambling Commission3, which regulates the industry, has annual funding of £19 million and almost all of it comes from licence fees paid by gambling operators. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) is the government department with overall responsibility for gambling policy and regulation.
The report concludes that while the Commission has improved regulation, there is much more it should do. It has increased enforcement against gambling operators that break rules, for example by revoking licences, and has also strengthened its rule book.4 But it needs to do more to incentivise operators to raise standards and be more systematic and detailed in recording and analysing information about gamblers to plug gaps in its knowledge.
Even if the Commission makes these improvements, it is a small body that is unlikely to be fully effective in regulating a challenging and fast-changing industry within the current system. Gambling regulation does not have features seen in other sectors, such as an ombudsman, and the way it is funded is not flexible meaning the Commission cannot change licence fees to respond to new risks emerging quickly from changes in technology and demand.
The report’s recommendations include that the Commission and DCMS should:
Gambling Behaviour In Great Britain Colonies
Gambling Behaviour In Great Britain History
- Be more strategic about getting gambling companies to better protect people. This could include incentivising companies to do more to make gambling safer beyond meeting minimum requirements
- Ensure gamblers are aware of services to resolve disputes, and review whether these arrangements are working effectively.
- Review how regulation is funded so they can keep pace with a fast-changing industry.