UK egaming participation below 10%, Gambling Commission survey finds
Men found to gamble online more than women, with the 35-44 age bracket seeing the greatest participation
Only 8% of the UK’s adult population participated in online gambling activities in the year ended 31 March, according to the findings of a survey from the country’s Gambling Commission.
The figure was measured in four separate contributing surveys over the course of the year and excludes National Lottery participation, which would bring the total up to 15%. The 8% total is flat compared to the previous financial year.
Just 3% of respondents claimed to have engaged in online sports betting during the period, compared to 4% in 2012, with 36% of horse racing bettors using online bookmakers and 11% using betting exchanges.
45% of those surveyed placed bets on other sports via an online bookmaker, with a further 10% using an exchange, while for non-sporting events the corresponding figures were 46% and 5% respectively. The survey did not break out the percentage of respondents who used both exchanges and traditional bookmakers.
More men than women were shown to have gambled during the quarterly four-week windows used by the Gambling Commission in its survey, with 18% of male respondents participating in online gambling activities during the 12-month period compared to 12% of females.
Including online National Lottery participation, more than 20% of those aged between 25 and 44 years old took part in some form of online gambling during the period, while for over-65 year olds the figure dropped to 6%. All age-groups saw a year-on-year increase in participation with the exception of 45-54-year-olds (flat at 16%) and the 65+ category (down from 7%).
The results of the survey follow last week’s announcement from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that it was “satisfied” with the UK’s egaming legislative proposals following a period of prelegislative scrutiny.