UK Problem Gambling Has Not Increased

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Published: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 mgowanbo.cc

Findings confound media speculation that study would show significant increases in problem gambling

It would appear that despite considerable growth in the UK gambling market, the mainstream media pundits on the pastime got it wrong in speculating that today's report on the Prevalence of Gambling in the UK would show dramatic increases in problem gambling.

Advance copies of the report reaching the media today (Wednesday) show that the number of problem gamblers in the UK has not altered since the corresponding survey back in 1999, reports Gaming Industry News. According to the study, commissioned by the UK Gambling Commission, 0.6 percent of the adult population has a gambling problem.

The finding confounds recent press speculation which suggested that the number of problem gamblers is close to the one million mark. Over the past few weeks mainstream media has been rife with supposedly reliable leaked statistics purporting to show that problem gambling, in line with the growth of the sector, had increased.

Peter Dean, the out-going Commission chairman, reflected on what many will view as an unexpected result. 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.

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

“The challenge, for us and for the industry, is to tackle this through the new licensing regime that has been put in place from September 1. British-based gambling operators must now comply with strict and detailed social responsibility obligations, and we will monitor how these requirements are met.”

The next prevalence survey will be published in 2009. For a full copy of the 2007 study go to www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk

Among the first to respond to the findings was gambling charity GamCare. A spokesman said: “We are delighted to see that the combined efforts of GamCare and the gaming industry, with its heightened commitment to the practices of social responsibility, has led to no increase in the number of problem gamblers in the UK.

"Operators have made, and have indicated that they will continue to make, concerted efforts to raise the awareness of the services provided by GamCare for those individuals who get into difficulty from gambling, including the decision to carry the GamCare HelpLine number in their advertising.”