With an estimated two hundred and fifty, 000 bettors, whoever past time has become ‘problematic’, there was fear from regulatory and regulators that with the introduction of various new mediums, including online casinos and poker rooms, that this figure would dramatically increase. However, and surprisingly golbos for many, the percentage of men and women within the UK with a so called ‘gambling problem’ has in fact dropped from 72% in 1999 to 68% this year.
Although this figure does not show the entire picture, with the majority of this 4% change being directly caused by a decline in players of the national lottery, it is indeed welcome news for those who had expected a sharp rise.
This study, entitled the ‘Gambling Prevalence Study’ and conducted between September 2006 and 03 2007, inhibited approximately 9, 000 adults in relation to a total of teen different forms of playing. Head of the study, Peter Dean, concluded that more than 99% of adult bettors did not fall into this problem group and that overall, despite the introduction of new playing methods, the number of people who regularly enjoyed a flutter had decreased.
So just why are less people playing, considering the relative ease with which you can now take part? Why has the advent of online playing been apparently unable to entice more people into playing, and more often? Well, the truth of the matter is they may have prevailed in drawing bettors into their virtual casinos. Other than a significant reduction in those playing the national lottery, every other form of playing has seen a comfortable rise on the figures of 1999.
On the face of things this is not something to be too concerned about. In comparison to other countries around the globe great britain ranks amongst the likes of The us and New Zealand, with playing levels cheaper than in america. It is also good news for the tax man, who made a staggering £2 Thousand from playing last year alone.
This probe was announced by Gordon Brown as an easy way in which the government could assess its plan of regenerating starving and run-down areas with the introduction of super casinos, with the first to have been built in Manchester later this year. However, with the conclusion of this study and the findings which do show increased popularity for non-lottery based playing, the costa rica government made our minds up against their super casino plans.
One spokesman for the Prime Minister went on record saying “While the report ensures that problem playing still only affects a small fraction of men and women, it does remain a serious issue the other that has to be addressed. The prime minister said in Come early july that the issue relating to a super-casino is whether or not this is the best way of meeting our regeneration objectives. inch.