UKGC acknowledges ‘significant decrease’ in overall problem gambling rate

The Gambling Commission has today (26 October 2021) published its ‘findings from the quarterly telephone survey: Statistics on participation and problem gambling for the year to September 2021‘.

The Commission’s data is based on its quarterly telephone survey conducted by Yonder Consulting. A nationally representative sample of 4,005 adults aged 16 and over were interviewed via telephone in December 2020, March 2021, June 2021 and September 2021. Some of the data for the year to September 2021 was collected during some element of lockdown or restricted activity level.

Consistent with our comments in relation to the previous quarterly statistics published in July 2021, these latest findings look even further set to counter arguments being raised by those calling for considerably more robust regulatory controls to be imposed pursuant to the UK Government’s ongoing Review of the Gambling Act 2005 in order to tackle concerns around increased problem gambling rates.

They show the following key facts:

  • In year to September 2021, overall participation in any gambling activity (in the last four weeks) has remained stable at 42% (following the previous quarter’s 3.5 percentage point decline in overall participation compared with the year to June 2020)
  • In year to September 2021, the online gambling participation rate is 25% (an increase of 2 percentage points on year to September 2020), whilst in person participation is down 5 percentage points to 24%. The Commission says that much of the online increase can be explained by increasing proportions of respondents playing National Lottery draws online.
  • The Commission describes:
    • the overall problem gambling rate as having “decreased significantly” (0.3%, compared to 0.6% in year to September 2020) – itself a significant change from what the Commission had described as the previous quarter’s “statistically stable” 0.4% rate – and
    • the moderate risk rate as having also “decreased significantly” to 0.7% (year to September 2021) compared to 1.2% in year to September 2020.
The Gambling Commission’s supporting survey data on gambling participation can be downloaded below.

Although it is encouraging news to read the Gambling Commission’s own data indicating a significant decrease in the overall problem gambling rate, we would warn against premature celebrations by the industry. Time will tell whether this trend continues in the same direction.

Nevertheless, the Betting and Gaming Council has pledged to “keep up the momentum” in this respect, stating as follows on its website:

A survey by the Gambling Commission showed that the rate of problem gambling for the year to September 2021 was 0.3 per cent – down from 0.6 per cent the previous year.

The study also showed that the rate of those gamblers classed as being at ‘moderate risk’ of harm fell from 1.2 per cent to 0.7 per cent in the same time frame.

The fall in rates suggests that the BGC’s work since 2019 on promoting safer gambling is having an impact.

BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher said:

“Since being established in 2019, we have worked tirelessly to drive up standards in the regulated betting and gaming industry and promote safer gambling.

Our initiatives have included using advertising to promote safer gambling tools like deposit limits and time-outs, investing more in research and treatment, funding an education programme provided by GamCare and YGAM, implementing the credit card ban and introducing tough new rules on VIP schemes and changes game design, as well as using technology to intervene with customers online.

One problem gambler is one too many, however, and we are determined to keep up the momentum in the months and years ahead.

There will always be those in the anti-gambling lobby who take a prohibitionist approach. But, in contrast, the Government has rightly and consistently said it will adopt an ‘evidence-led’ approach to its Gambling Review. We always need to do more to provide greater protection to the tiny minority of people who are vulnerable to problem gambling, whilst recognising that the overwhelming majority of millions of people who enjoy a flutter do so safely and responsibly.

As we continue to make progress on problem gambling and drive ever higher standards on safer gambling in the regulated sector, it’s vital we don’t do anything that drives people to the unsafe, unregulated black market online, which has none of the protections or safer gambling interventions that we see with licensed operators”.