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According to data from a trial project conducted in spring 2022, 1.3 percent of the British population is classified as problem gamblers, significantly greater than the 0.4 percent estimate from the Health Survey for England 2018(which from here on is simply referred to as HSE 2018). The regulator highlighted, however, that this might be due to a variety of factors unrelated to actual increases in problem gambling.
As a result, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission cautioned that the revised figure must not be regarded as a true forecast of problem gambling prevalence rates at this time.
In the pilot programme survey, the percentages of respondents classified as being at moderate risk and low risk of gambling addiction were also higher, at 2.3 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively.
The Sample Group in the New Survey Had a Higher Proportion of Confirmed Gamblers
As per the UKGC reports, when compared to a random sample of the population, the pilot programme sample had a higher proportion of gamblers. In the pilot, 63 percent of respondents gambled, compared to 54 percent in the HSE 2018, with online gambling rates showing the most significant change.
The difference between the two groups cannot be explained by a true increase in gambling behavior, according to NatCen social research, which won the contract to administer the initiative. The Commission’s quarterly participation surveys, it said, would have reported this if it was true.
According to NatCen, the disparity in figures relating to harm rates and general gambling levels was prevalent amongst younger generations, specifically women. Meanwhile, ratios documented among older people were analogous in the two studies.
Problem gambling has been an increasing concern not only in the UK but various jurisdictions around the world. Perhaps the main appeal is the fact that playing at online casinos offers players the attractive prospect of winning real money. Not only that, there are also risk-free bonuses which get players involved, casinos such as Mr. Spin have been cited for offering too many bonuses.
Online Survey Method Could be the Root of the Issue
If the percentage of gamblers in the sample group was higher without an actual proportionate increase in gambling rates in the country, the regulator said that the discrepancy could have been caused due to the fact that it was an online survey approach which was used in the pilot programme.
In this method, offline contact options are used to entice people to logon to the web and fill out the survey. The first set of questions was followed by a second set designed to eradicate any selection bias in favor of regular internet users.
Therefore, the increased number of gamblers in the sample might be simply because gamblers could be more drawn to filling out a survey pertaining to gambling. NatCen echoed a similar attitude, but also suggested that telephone poll respondents could be hesitant to declare gambling.
NatCen admitted that it was not easy to pinpoint the actual cause of the discrepancy and that it could be a combination of things.
It also identified discrepancies in the manner some respondents completed surveys. Even after adjusting for their degree of gambling behavior, NatCen found that levels of low and moderate risk were greater in the pilot study.
For instance, from the HSE 2018 group, gamblers who had only indulged in one gambling session in the prior year, 2% of them were reported to have Problem Gambling Severity Index of 1 or higher. On the other hand, the pilot survey concluded that 8% had a Problem Gambling Severity Index of 1 of more.
After adjusting for gambling behavior, the projected probabilities of attaining a PGSI score of 1+ for the pilot survey were found to be 2.9 times greater than for HSE 2018.
As a result of the design of the pilot survey, pilot survey respondents with the same gambling patterns as those in HSE 2018 answered to the PGSI items in such a manner that their gambling was scored as low, moderate, or problematic, according to NatCen.
In fact, NatCen also pointed out that surveys done by GambleAware and others in the past had been reviewed and the reviews indicated that such surveys could overreport the problem. These surveys were similar in design to the most recent pilot survey.
UKGC Claims Pilot Survey was a Success
Given that 40% of participants submitted their responses via mail, the Commission stated that providing a postal survey completion option is an essential for future polls.
As a consequence, the regulator declared the pilot survey a success and decided to adopt a similar survey approach in the future after implementing these recommendations.
For subsequent cycles of the study, NatCen made several suggestions. It was proposed that further effort be done to prevent a bias against gamblers in the sample, such as modifying the invitations to emphasize more on mental health instead of gambling.
It also recommended increasing the sample size to 20,000 people to allow for sub-sample evaluation and cutting down the survey time to 20 minutes.
Despite some of the evident overreporting of problem gambling, the UKGC seems to be satisfied with how the pilot survey went and has no qualms adopting the same methodology, albeit slightly corrected, going forward.
