Mobile gambling activity on the increase
Recently published research on Great Britain shows that mobile gambling during a given four-week period rose to 50% in 2019, compared to 44% in 2018. The findings come from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC)’s annual gambling participation report.
In total, 21% of respondents engaged in online gambling, indicating a year-on-year rise of 3%. 56% of those who gambled online had signed up for multiple online gambling accounts.
Popularity of the National Lottery
The Gambling participation in 2019: behaviour, awareness and attitudes research found that, on average, respondents each had three online gambling accounts. Overall gambling participation in Great Britain was 1% for the year, with 47% of those surveyed having gambled in the previous four weeks.
National Lottery draws are still the most popular form of gambling
This figure fell to 32% when excluding National Lottery contestants. The report findings show that the National Lottery draws are still the most popular form of gambling in Great Britain.
When it comes to sports betting, football and horse racing lead the way.
Drop in gambling ad views, customer trust levels
The UKGC’s report shows encouraging signs in relation to the recent concerted effort to push for a gambling advertising crackdown in the UK. Of those surveyed, 51% had seen a television advert related to gambling in the previous week. This indicated a drop of 3% year-on-year.
43% believed there are associations between gambling and crime
More key figures from the report point to a decrease in respondents’ levels of trust in the gambling industry. 43% believed there are associations between gambling and crime, which rose 5% from 2018. 29% felt that gambling is trustworthy and fair, indicating a 1% drop.
Nationwide changes may be on the way
The gambling sector in the United Kingdom has recently come under heavy scrutiny. Many groups are advocating a complete overhaul of national gambling legislation and tougher regulation of online gambling activity in particular.
There are calls for significant curtailments on gambling company advertising, such as banning operators from sponsoring soccer club kits. The push for a £2 ($2.58) maximum stake cap on online casino games has also gained a lot of traction lately.