Aus gamblers concerned by safety not licence, says report
Gambling Research Australia report reveals players remain concerned by gambling online, finds no link with problem gambling
A new report commissioned by Gambling Research Australia has revealed gamblers in the country remain concerned about the integrity and security of gambling websites, despite a large minority remaining indifferent to licensed operators.
The research found that “substantial minorities” of online gamblers had security concerns, although one third were unconcerned whether or an operator was licensed in the country or not.
Online gamblers were also found to be more likely to choose their preferred operator based on price and product, and most gamblers surveyed revealed that preferred to use domestic operators despite the influx of UK-based gambling firms entering the market in recent months.
Ladbrokes became the most recent UK bookmaker to enter the Australian market, joining the likes of William Hill and Paddy Power while Betfair is thought to be investigating the sale of its stake in an Australia-facing joint venture with casino firm Crown Resorts.
The research, funded by the country’s Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, was conducted over the past three years in order to investigate the impact online gambling on land-based alternatives and gambling-related social problems.
The report concluded the average online gambler to be male and younger than traditional land-based gamblers, but did not link online gambling with a higher rate of problem gambling.
“As participation in interactive gambling appears to be relatively recent and increasing, it is possible that related problems might increase over time with increased participation in this activity,” the report said.
“However, there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude that interactive gambling is causing higher levels of gambling problems.”