The UK Gambling Commission has released its annual report for 2017, giving some interesting insights about the gambling trends and rates of participation in the UK.
The mobile gambling trend is on the rise, according to the new report. Mobile phones and tablets are increasingly being used for online betting as big casinos like those listed on Gambling Metropolis are gearing their services for mobile audiences. It was found that 51 percent gamblers gambled in 2017 by using their mobiles or tablets. While the previous year, the percentage stood at 43, meaning an increase of 8 percent.
While the online participation in gambling increased, interestingly the overall participation in gambling dwindled in proportion. According to the report, 45 percent had participated in any form of gambling in the previous 4 weeks. The previous year report showed that it was 48 percent, a 3 percent decrease this time compared with 2016 figures. It was also found that men were more likely to gamble than women.
Probably the main reason why mobile gambling is becoming so popular is due to its increasing accessibility compared to desktops or even land-based casinos. It is unlikely that anyone in the developed world won’t have a mobile phone nowadays. According to Statista, an estimated 62.9 percent of the world population had a mobile phone. It is further estimated that 67 percent would have mobile phones by 2019.
In the past, it was very costly to browse on your mobile phones. However, data nowadays are widely available and very cost effective. Now even the developing world is also getting access to the Internet.
In terms of problem gambling in the UK, the report said that only 0.8 percent of people were identified as problem gamblers. And only 6 percent of people decided to self-exclude in the previous year, the same as the percentage in 2016.
There were trends which had remained almost the same during the two years. The percentage of people who had bet in-play was the same as the previous year, 26%, while the proportion of those who thought of gambling as fair and trustable was almost the same: 33% this year versus34% of the previous year.
Ben Haden, programme director at the Gambling Commission, said: “Our new three-year strategy sets out our role in developing a strong evidence base and improved understanding of the impact gambling has on society. Today’s report makes an important contribution to that work as it presents a comprehensive view on how the British public is choosing the gamble and their attitudes to the current market.
“Our research shows the main factor that influences where someone gambles, is a company with a reputation for being fair and trustworthy. The message from that is clear – gambling companies that treat their customers well and act responsibly will be at an increasingly competitive advantage.”
Gambling in the UK
Gambling has been very popular in theUKfor a long time. Throughout the 20th century, the lotteries, bingo and sports betting remained very popular. Now the online gambling is in vogue, accounting for 35 percent of all betting activity.
Through the Gambling Act of 1960, bingo halls were first allowed to operate in the UK. Soon after the legalization of the betting shops, about 10,000 such shops were opened in the UK. The Gaming Act of 1968 is renowned for it established rules for the construction of commercial casinos.
The Gambling Act of 2005 is very notable in terms of gambling regulations in the UK. Under the terms of this act, the Gambling Commission (answerable to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) is to regulate the betting industry. Many of these responsibilities were previously assigned to the Gaming Board for Great Britain. The Gambling Commission is also responsible for the online gambling regulation. The commission only issues licenses to those companies whose operations are based in the UK.
This Gambling Act of 2005 gives the commission the power to issue/revoke a license to operators while also having the power to impose fines. The stated objectives of the commission are to prevent gambling from becoming a source of crime or disorder, ensure fair gambling and protect children from the harms of gambling.
The contribution of gambling towards the British economy can’t be underestimated. It provides both direct and indirect contributions to the economy. If we consider a study that was done in the British betting industry, then we might get a picture of its impact on the British economy.
According to the study entitled The Full Picture, betting was responsible for £3 billion in terms of GVA (Gross Value Added) in the year 2008 while it was also responsible for supporting more than 40,000 jobs. Those jobs in the betting industry were mostly filled by workers who had no qualifications. That is how the betting industry is trying to increase employment opportunities. Through its links with other sectors in the supply chain, the contribution was about £6 billion.
Compared to many other countries, the UK gamblers have always enjoyed a lot of advantages. Firstly, gambling is legal for anyone over the age of 18. The government strictly enforces its regulations in order to keep a safe and fair betting environment. Not only that, there is no tax to be paid on gambling wins.
Photograph by JEShoots