BGC: New Gambling Commission figures confirm UK problem gambling rate drops to 0.2%

BGC highlights that the previous year rate was 0.4% and 0.3% in the latest annualized figures released in February 2022. While problem gambling rates among women have remained stable and low at 0.1%. In other words, it goes from 225 thousand to 113 thousand players.

On this, the association explains that, although these data are welcome, it is set against the backdrop of increased use of black-market sites in the UK, where British punters using unlicensed sites have more than doubled in just two years and the amount staked is now in billions of pounds.

In this regard, the association recalls that a PwC report has revealed the shocking scale of this black market in European countries after the introduction of new restrictive measures on regulated operators.

It is worth mentioning that Norway introduced a state monopoly for all gaming coupled with much wider restrictions, the black market there now accounts for over 66 per cent of all money staked and the problem gambling rate is running at 1.4% of all adults. It is a very similar situation in France, where online casino gaming was banned, now 57 per cent of money staked there goes to black market operators, in France the problem gambling rate is running at 1.6% of all adults.

Most problem gamblers do not suffer from addiction, gambling addiction requires a clinical assessment. The two are often conflated, but they are entirely different.

Following the release of the new figures, BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher said: “are further evidence of that positive progress and underline our calls for ministers to take a genuinely evidence-based approach to the upcoming White Paper and not pander to the anti-gambling lobby. Our initiatives have included using advertising to promote safer gambling tools like deposit limits and time-outs, investing more in research and treatment, changes to advertising, stronger protections for younger people and introducing tough new rules on VIP schemes.”

Likewise, they demonstrate the success and great responsibility of the industry for “independent charities in delivering research, education and treatment (RET) for problem gamblers. Those that argue for a statutory levy want nothing more than a brand-new tax on the industry which won't put an extra penny into RET, but it could hammer parts of the sector, in particular the land-based casinos who are only just recovering from the pandemic, threatening jobs and businesses. It could also end up threatening the progress being made by established charities who are leading vitally important work on RET across the whole country, as born out by the latest problem gambling figures”.

Also, Michael Dugher assures that these figures represent “a profound disappointment to anti-gambling prohibitionists and it should be a warning to ministers to ensure future changes are carefully balanced, proportionate and targeted. Around 22.5m adults in the UK bet each month and it is clear once again that the overwhelming majority to so perfectly safely and responsibly. However, our work to continue to raise standards across the regulated industry will continue to keep up the momentum and build on the progress we have made recent months and years”.

Considering the above, take the opportunity to highlight the great benefits of regulated gambling “unlike the unsafe, unregulated and growing online black market, which has none of the safeguards which are the norm among BGC members. Ministers should not drive customers into the arms of the black market by introducing intrusive personal checks for non-problem gamblers and those not at risk, or by taking away the offers that pointers in a highly competitive market enjoy”.