The Gambling Commission has released new figures confirming a 0.2% drop on the rate of problem gambling among adults in the UK.
The most recent statistics have showed that the rate of problem gambling within the year 2022 was 0.2% - down from 0.3% the previous year, which remains low by international standards.
This latest statistics come as the Government finalizes its Gambling Reforms, with a new White Paper establishing changes, to be expected very soon.
There are around 22.5 million adults that place a bet each month - buying a lottery ticket, visiting a casino, having a bingo game, playing online or betting on horseracing, football and other sports.
The regulated betting and gaming industry contributes about £7.1 billion to the economy, generates £4.2 billion in tax revenue, and supports 110,000 jobs.
BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher said:
"These newly released figures are further evidence of the positive progress we have made on safer gambling and underline our urgent calls for ministers to take a genuinely evidence based approach to the upcoming White Paper.
These figures showing that problem gambling has fallen once again will no doubt come as a profound disappointment to anti-gambling prohibitionists, who like to vastly overstate the issue.
Their alarmist demands are not backed up by the evidence. We want big changes, but they must be focused on this small minority who are vulnerable to harm - not the vast majority who bet safely and responsibly. We need a risk based approach which helps the vulnerable, not ruins the experience for the responsible majority.
Just under half of all UK adults enjoy a bet each month and it is clear once again that the overwhelming majority to so perfectly safely and responsibly. However, our work to raise standards across the regulated industry will continue, to keep up the momentum and build on the progress we have made in recent years.
The regulated betting and gaming industry is determined to promote safer gambling, unlike the unsafe, unregulated and growing online black market, which has none of the safeguards which are the norm among BGC members.
Ministers should not drive customers into the arms of the black market by introducing blanket low level intrusive affordability checks for all punters but rather use technology to target those at risk.
We welcome these figures but refuse to be complacent. Our mission to drive up standards continues."
The latest figures confirm gambling participation rates and problem gambling rates have remained static and steady, with participation still down when compared in the year 2019.
BGC strongly supports the Gambling Review as an added buffer to raise standards and promote safer gambling, but any changes introduced by the Government should not force gamblers to turn to the ever-growing unsafe, unregulated online black market.
A recent study revealed that the number of people visiting unlicensed betting websites has more than doubled, from 210,000 (2019) to 460,000 (2020), and the money staked is in the billions.
Source: https://bettingandgamingcouncil.com/news/pg-figures-dec22
