Gambling awareness is growing throughout the United Kingdom, with an emphasis on Great Britain. Research is regularly being commissioned to locate new data on how problems bettors can best be assisted. Recent research indicates that throughout the Covid-19 Era, gambling behaviours have been sustained. YouGov was contracted to collect updated data on problem bettors, with Parliament anticipating that homebound civilians engaging with online gambling would increase their monthly bankrolls.

Concern from Parliament derived with the possibility that Covid Relief Funds were being used to sustain gambling habits. Research from YouGov has indicated that 52% of bettors maintained their standard bankrolls since March 2020. 41% of online bettors clarified that they’d been wagering less than their traditional valuations, with the remaining 4% noting they’ve begun gambling more than usual.

An independent charity named GambleAware champions public health of sportsbetting & casino betting. Their respective research suggests that bettors on their problem gambling list have increased their usage & spending over the Covid Era. GambleAware requested those individuals provide reasoning for their increased use, with boredom being referenced by all bettors with an 8+ addiction rating. GambleAware has responded by increasing information campaigns with individuals listed on the “Problem Gambling Severity Index”.

Minor Increases in Addiction

It should be clarified that from October 2019 to May 2020, gambling rates declined by 10% throughout the United Kingdom & Great Britain. There was an exclusive exception to that rule, with that being online slots. Problem betting rates increased by 1.5% to 2.3% around the same period. Similar increases have been seen during the Covid Era. There’ll be notable challenges with GambleAware reversing the rise in problem betting.

The Deputy Chairman of GambleAware, Sian Griffiths, expressed that their published data findings prompt notable concern that awareness for problem betting has dropped substantially. This extends towards the usage of betting services & gambling treatments, which Sian Griffiths expressed they’ve built over years of hard work. Knowing that support isn’t being provided to those in need has created more concern for GambleAware.

Deputy Chairman Griffiths would finish by clarifying gambling percentages are increasing during the coronavirus lockdown, however, that those increases are minuscule compared to the amount that GambleAware and PGSI were expecting to see between March to October.