The United Kingdom has witnessed a rapid growth in online gambling in recent years. However, this surge in popularity has been accompanied by an increase in problem gambling rates. Needless to say, the thrill of this potentially addictive pastime is increased substantially when players can win real money online instantly, no matter the restrictive wagering requirements imposed.
GamCare, a leading organization in responsible gambling, has recently released data that highlights a concerning spike in online slot addiction, prompting concerns nationwide.
The Alarming Statistics
GamCare’s latest data, from September 2023, paints a grim picture of the online gambling landscape in the UK. The organisation reported a significant increase in the number of calls related to online slot addiction, with three in five UK online gamblers looking for support in the past year citing online slots as the source of their issues.
The data from the period 2022-23 highlighted that a massive 60% of people who made contact with its helpline said that slots were one of the main activities causing concern. While this was only a 1% increase on the previous years’ statistics, it was almost double the 34% of people who cited online slots as a problem before the pandemic in 2018-19.
The figures were sourced from the 5,660 people who called the helpline during 2022-23 and mentioned the specific type of gambling activity they were struggling with. On a broader scale, 73% of those surveyed indicated that online gambling as a whole was a cause for concern.
The Way Forward
In response to the alarming findings, Colin Walsh, GamCare’slived experience manager, pointed out that there is still a misguided perception that gambling harm is mainly caused by sports betting. He went on to elaborate by saying that, in reality, the trend over the past five years has been for people who’ve traditionally preferred gambling on the horses or sports events to transition to forms of online gambling, where it is easier to lose track of how much time and money is being spent.
With regard to the general crisis surrounding problem gambling in the UK, the government has also acknowledged the scope of this problem in relation to online slots. It is currently in the process of discussing the potential introduction of maximum stake limits for online slots as part of its wider review of the Gambling Act 2005. Consultation is considering stake limits ranging from £2 to £15 per spin, along with slot-specific measures aimed at providing greater protection.
Understanding The Broader Nature of The Problem
While the stats from this organization focus solely on online slots, it is important to understand the broader nature of the problem and the difficulties associated with accessing help to find a way out of the situation.
Walsh drew upon his personal experience When commenting on the difficult nature of online gambling and slots as well as how isolating it can be for gamblers caught in the negative cycle; he did, however, also say that there are ways to get through it and encouraged people to seek out the free support services if they were struggling.
In short, GamCare’s reports highlight the serious nature of online slot addiction in the UK, and it is evident that the changing nature of gambling harm is not something that this country can ignore. Looking to the future, it is clear that the UK government will need to ramp up its efforts and join forces with other stakeholders to tackle the wider issues associated with online slots head-on.
