February 27, 2018

The Gambling Commission has released its latest ‘Gambling Participation and Perceptions Report’. The report summarises the latest gambling trends in Britain and looks at general attitudes towards the market. In particular, the report tracks participation rates and problem gambling estimates, looks at online gambling behaviour generally and also considers consumer awareness of gambling management tools.

The report found that some of the main influences which encourage customers to play are linked to a operator’s reputation. If a company is being seen to be fair and trustworthy, customers are more likely to gamble with them.

The Gambling Commission’s headline findings are as follows:

Headline findings:

• 45% of people have gambled in the past four weeks (including National Lottery play) (48% in year to December 2016)
• 18% of people have gambled online in the past four weeks (17% in year to December 2016)
• 1% of people who have gambled, have played on machines in a bookmakers in the past four weeks (1% in year to December 2016)
• 8% of gamblers identified as problem gamblers, and 3.9% identified as at-risk gamblers.
• 51% of online gamblers did so using a mobile phone or tablet (43% in year to December 2016)
• On average, online gamblers held 4 accounts each (3 in year to December 2016)
• 6% of gamblers have ever self-excluded (6% in year to December 2016)
• 26% of gamblers follow gambling companies on social media (32% in year to December 2016)
• 33% of people think gambling is fair and can be trusted (34% in year to December 2016)
• 41% of people think that gambling is associated with crime (39% in year to December 2016)

You can read the report here.