UK online gambling participation more than doubles in most deprived areas

Twice as many gambling accounts belong to customers in the most deprived areas in the UK, according to new research.

A new study by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and the University of Liverpool, commissioned by GambleAware, found that participation in online gambling is disproportionately concentrated in the most deprived areas of the country.

This study gleaned data from 139,152 accounts across seven gambling operators in the UK between July 2018 and June 2019.

The data revealed 29% of accounts were registered in the most deprived areas of the country, with only 13% of accounts registered to those in the least deprived areas.

Losses across all games were “strongly skewed” towards the most deprived areas of the UK, as the study found that those in the poorest regions accounted for 25% of industry gross gambling yield (GGY).

In comparison, customers in the least deprived areas accounted for 15% of total GGY.

Elsewhere, the study estimated that 129,000 players lost at least £2,000 annually, while a further 290,000 customers lost more than £2,000.

This figure is likely to be much higher as the study only covered around 37.5% of the current UK gambling market.

Slot games accounted for the majority of spending at 60.1%, reflecting its dominance in the sector. However, while the sector, on the whole, sees more male players, women made up most of those who played online slots and online bingo.

The study found on average; players lost £1.17 per minute while playing casino games, slot players lost 31.8p per minute, poker players 18.9p and bingo players 7.2p per minute.

It was also found that 1.2% of account holders, which is close to 50,000 players, gambled for the equivalent of eight full days throughout the year. According to the study, around 80% of that time was spent playing online slots. This group also spent nearly £5,000 during this time as well.

It was also found that the top 10% of accounts by volume, the amount they staked, made up 79% of operator revenue.

The study concluded with several recommendations for the government ahead of the publication of the white paper review into the Gambling Act 2005.

These recommendations included showing the risks of gambling within advertising campaigns, similar to what is done on the front of cigarette packets.

In addition, more research should be undertaken into the link between those that have converted from betting only accounts to betting and gaming accounts.

It has also been recommended that operators keep a closer eye on those who have switched to dual accounts and lower the threshold for those at risk.

The study also highlighted “concerns” around a lack of early-stage intervention into potential gambling-related harm as well as the “accessibility that [gambling products] offer at all times of day”.

Dr Sokratis Dinos, director of health at NatCen, said: “This research provides an unprecedented insight into online gambling, with crucial insights for future policy and regulation in Great Britain.

“For both gaming and betting, a vital few customers are providing the lion’s share of revenue for major gambling operators. The survey further indicates that many of these customers may be at risk of gambling harms.”

Zoë Osmond, CEO at GambleAware, said: “This research adds to the growing body of evidence showing that harms from gambling are falling disproportionately on the most deprived communities. The current cost of living crisis, along with the economic fallout of the pandemic, can only exacerbate this further, which underscores the need for concerted system-wide action to prevent gambling harms.

“We welcome the findings and recommendations for future public health campaigns, as we work to break down the barriers that those suffering from gambling harm face when accessing treatment and support.”