Millions of Gamblers, Study Says

An official report released by the UK government on Wednesday reports that the number of people who regularly gamble online is 3.5 million. While this number represents a considerable increase compared to past (and long outdated) surveys, the number of problem gamblers seems to have remained still, at about 250,000.

The newly founded regulatory body, the Gambling Commission, which operates under the recently enacted Gambling Act, is behind the survey. The numbers are designed to grant the Commission the general picture of the current gambling culture in the UK and to measure any effect the new policy from now on.

The Numbers

The Gambling Prevalence Study, the official name of the study that surveyed 9,003 people aged 16 and over, was carried between September 2006 and March 2007.

The quarter million problem gamblers account for 0.6 percent of the adult population. This figure is the same as it was back in 1999, the last time a similarly comprehensive survey was launched. But as the number of people gambling has dropped over the years, in comparison to the larger population and in spite of the greater availability of online casinos, from 72 percent of the population to 68 percent since 1999, problem gamblers now account for about 7 percent of the gambling community.

The National Lottery is still the most popular form of gambling, at 57 percent of those questioned. Only 6 percent of those questioned used the internet to do so. Comparing men and women always makes for fascinating trivia. The study finds that men are more likely to gamble than women, with 71 percent compared to 65.

As for the problem gamblers, their profile is also described in the numbers. They are most likely to be male, single and in poor health. Interestingly enough, they are likely to have a parent with a gambling problem. Problem gamblers usually engage in spread betting, at 14.7 percent, fixed odds betting terminals (11.2) and betting exchanges (9.8).

Compared to other countries, problem gambling in the UK is at the level of Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland, and not as high as it is in the US, Australia, South Africa, Singapore and Hong Kong. Still, Britain can look at Norway for an example of how to keep problem gambling at even lower rates.

Policy Adjustments

To reach the Norwegian standard, or simply to bring the number of problem gamblers down, the government is considering revising its policy, which currently has gambling companies making voluntary contributions towards fighting the problem. Instead, it might make them pay a compulsory "addict tax."

Sports and Culture Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: "The gambling industry has a responsibility to make the right level of funding available to treat those who are harmed by its products."

The Critics

A case in point was made by some when they said that the survey comes two years too late. The Act, now already in force, could itself have been designed in light of these figures. Instead, the findings are basis for comparison, not much more.

Other criticism of the Act calls out the British regulations and enforcement efforts to be lacking, as more general, continent-wide measures must be applied to effectively control the industry and the advertisements that reach the British on television.

Regarding the negative attitude of gamblers, the survey has some general attitudes that show the average view to be against a ban on gambling, even though it might be more negative than positive.

Reactions

While news broadcasts start with such statements as "Gambling addiction is not on the rise," the picture is more complex and the following responses gathered from industry insiders and policy makers illustrate.

The top of the list of responses is saved for the Prime Minister, or rather his spokesperson. Mr. Brown's spokesman pointed out that problem gambling may still affect only a small minority of people, but stated it remains a concern.

Mr. Geoffrey Goldbold of Gamcare, a charity that helps problem gamblers and often takes the opposition side of the gambling debate, has even said "We're [Gamcare] extremely pleased" with the numbers, and that the "industry should be congratulated." Mr. Goldbold stated that still, there is a need to take care of those that do have a problem.

Mr. John Greenway of the responsibility in Gambling Trust has expressed his opinion that the figure of problem gamblers, though stable, is still too high. His organization will work with the Gambling Commission and others in fighting the problem and helping the addicts.

In fact, this is a positive effect of the Act, it is agreed by many, that gamblers will have easy access and be supplied the necessary information on gambling sites that will direct them to such organizations that may help them with their problem.

Mr. Gareth Wallace of the Evangelical Alliance said much the same, only presented the challenge that now faces the Gambling Commission, to see if the Act indeed helps bring the number of problem gamblers down.

The final word is left to the Gambling Commission chairman, Mr. Peter Dean, who in honesty admitted to being pleasantly surprised as he expected a big increase in the number of problem gamblers.

We all are.