With an estimated three hundred, 000 bettors, whose 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 golbos figure would dramatically increase. However, and surprisingly for many, the percentage of people within the UK with a so called ‘gambling problem’ has in fact gotten 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 attributed to a decline in players of the national lottery, it is indeed welcomed news for those who had expected a sharp rise.
This study, entitled the ‘Gambling Prevalence Study’ and conducted between September 2006 and Walk 2007, inhibited approximately 9, 000 adults in relation to a total of teen different forms of casino. 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 casino methods, the number of people who regularly enjoyed a flutter had decreased.
So why are less people casino, considering the relative ease with which you can now take part? Why has the advent of online casino been apparently unable to entice more people into playing, and more often? Well, the truth of the matter is that they’ve succeeded in drawing bettors into their virtual casinos. Other than a significant lowering in those playing the national lottery, every other form of casino has seen a gentle 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 the uk ranks amongst the likes of The us and New Zealand, with casino levels cheaper than in the usa. It is also good news for the tax man, who made a staggering £2 Billion from casino last year alone.
This probe was announced by Gordon Brown as a way in which the government could assess its plan of regenerating unhappy 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 casino, the costa rica government smart idea against their super casino plans.
One spokesman for the Prime Minister went on record saying “While the report ensures that problem casino still only affects a small minority of people, it does remain a serious issue and something that has to be addressed. The prime minister said in August that the issue relating to a super-casino is whether or not this is the best way of meeting our regeneration objectives. inch.