Earlier this week, the trade body representing the licensed gambling sector in the UK – the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) – confirmed some figures provided by the country’s gambling regulatory body, according to which problem gambling rates in the country have fallen reaching 0.2% in 2022.
In the previous year, 2021, the gambling addiction rates in the UK were 0.3%. According to the research, the decline in the aforementioned figure means that the problem gambling levels in the country are currently below international standards.
The reported figures confirm that both the gambling participation rates and problem gambling rates in the UK remain steady and pretty much static, with participation levels still down on the ones registered in 2019.
The latest statistics have been unveiled at a time when the Government is still working on the much-expected gambling reforms, with a new White Paper on gambling expected to be unveiled in the upcoming weeks. Estimates have shown that 22.5 million adults place bets on a monthly basis in the UK, no matter if it comes to having a game of bingo, purchasing a lottery ticket, visiting a casino, or placing wagers on sports online.
Currently, the industry contributes about £7.1 billion to the local economy, supports more than 100,000 jobs, and is worth about £4.2 billion in tax.
Upcoming White Paper to Have Significant Impact on the Gambling Sector’s Regulation
As mentioned above, the White Paper of the Government’s gambling review, which is expected to have a significant impact on the regulation of the sector in the future, is expected to be published soon. However, no details about the exact date when the report is set to be presented have been provided yet.
Michael Dugher, the chief executive officer of the Betting and Gaming Council, shared that he does not have any information about the content of the impeding UK Government’s White Paper on gambling, but he has previously supported the review. As for the newly-released figures regarding problem gambling and gambling participation rates, he said that the latest reports provided further evidence of the positive progress that had been made by the regulated industry on safer gambling and highlighted the urgent calls for local lawmakers to follow an evidence-based approach to the upcoming Government’s White Paper.
According to Mr Dugher, the figures proved that problem gambling levels in the UK had declined once again and highlighted the fact that these figures contrast with the projections of anti-gambling campaigners who were always inclined to exaggerate. He explained that the demands of the campaigners are not supported by any evidence and further noted that, in fact, there is only a small minority of players who are actually vulnerable to harm. That is why an evidence-based approach is necessary for the regulator to help individuals who are more susceptible to gambling-related harm.
- Author
Daniel Williams
