One in Four Brits Now Gamble in the UK

Posted by Harry Kane on Tuesday, March 1, 2022

We all know that online gambling is an increasingly popular pastime in the UK, particularly through mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Of course, gambling participation rates tend to vary from one period to another due to a number of different factors, but there’s no doubt that the numbers are continuing to rise consistently and over an extended period of time. But what exactly do the numbers tells us, and is the increased risk of participation translating into higher instances of problem gambling? Let’s find out!

Exploring the Numbers – What do They Tell Us?

According to the latest figures collated and released by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), around one-in-four Brits (25%) now making wagers regularly online. This means that online gambling has reached a peak in terms of participation rates, while this upward trend shows no sign of abating anytime soon.

More specifically, the figures released showcased that 25.7% of the 4,018 respondents aged 16 or over had wagered online during the previous four weeks, with this up incrementally on the 23.8% recorded during the same period last year. Interestingly, this figure is also up from 18.5% during the previous five years, highlighting a clear trend for growth and a distinct rise in the number of casual players on these shores.

The survey, which asked respondents about gambling on four occasions between June 2021 and March 2022, also revealed that 43% of Brits had wagered in general during the previous four weeks. However, this represented a slight decline when compared with pre-pandemic participation rates, which peaked at 47% in 2019.

In terms of activity, the most popular form of online gambling was through the National Lottery and similar entities. Outside of this, however, sports betting (particularly football and horse racing) was the most popular online wagering activity, with largely driven by a continued rise in demand for in-play and micro betting. In addition to a marked increase in online gambling participation rates, the most recent data also suggested that in-person and land-based gambling has increased marginally year-on-year.

In fact, it’s up by 3% when compared with the previous 12 months, highlighting the green shoots of recovery that has been adversely impacted by falling demand and stringent regulatory measures such as the FOBT cap since 2019. Of course, in-person gambling remains considerably less popular than the online alternative, and the latter continues to account for a much larger share of the overall marketplace.

Are Problem Gambling Rates Increasing at the Same Rate?

The question that remains, of course, is have the rates of problem or at-risk gambling increased at the same rate during the reporting period? This is an important consideration, especially in relation to the measures being proposed by the APPG for Gambling-Rated Harm in the UK Parliament.

Following analysis of the UKGC’s data by the UK Addiction Treatment Group (UKAT), it was revealed that the biggest increase in overall gambling occurred within the 16-24 age group. In the year ending March 2022, some 34.7% of this demographic had gambled during the previous four weeks, with this representing an increase of 5% when compared to the previous year.

Another group to experience increased activity was the 55–64-year-old demographic, which saw participation rates increase to 49.8% in March 2022 (from 48.7% 12 months previously). This is a more nominal increase, of course, and highlights how a growing number of older players are transitioning from brick-and-mortar gambling to online alternatives.

Despite the increases observed within these demographics (and the wider rise in online gambling participation rates in the UK), UKAT’s analysis failed to demonstrate a proportionate increase in the number of problem gamblers. Sure, there was a slight increase in the number of those in the moderate risk of addiction category, particularly among female gamblers. In total, 0.9% of women were considered to have a moderate risk of addition in March 2022, up from just 0.4% the previous year.

So, although it’s fair to surmise that the rates of problem or at-risk gambling continue to rise in line with increased participation, the former is moving at a much slower pace against the backdrop of more stringent regulatory measures and much higher levels of awareness and help. Also, we should remember that the average UK gambler wagers just £133 per year (or £2.58 per week), reaffirming iGaming as little more than a casual pastime for the vast majority of players and punters nationwide.

The Last Word

These figures not only highlight the increased popularity of online gambling among casual players, but they also show that the rates of problem or at-risk gambling are growing at a much slower and disproportionate rate. They also demonstrate that online gambling is becoming an increasingly influential driver of overall market growth, as it continues to claim a larger share of the marketplace despite a nominal rise in offline betting activity.

While these figures are indicative of a growing marketplace where player protections appear to be effective, they may not be enough to deter the government from legislating within the space and compelling the regulator to impose more stringent regulations. The APPG for Gambling-Related Harm has already made a number of proposals, including the introduction of a £2 betting cap on virtual slots. This could be accompanied by a blanket advertising ban on television (and potentially online), alongside potential spending limits on accounts and VIP restrictions.

A comprehensive license review of all operators by the UKGC has already commenced, and it’s unlikely that the latest figures will change anything from the perspective of future regulations and guidelines. This remains an interesting space to watch in the near-term, and one that could create controversy if the measures proposed are deemed disproportionate to the actual scale of problem gambling in the UK.