A recent survey by GambleAware reveals significant public support for stricter regulations on gambling advertising in the UK. The survey, conducted in collaboration with Ipsos, included responses from 4,207 adults and highlighted the increasing concern over the prevalence and impact of gambling advertisements.

Demand for Increased Regulation

The survey, published on June 27, indicates that almost three-quarters (74%) of British consumers believe gambling advertisements should be regulated on social media, with 72% supporting increased regulation for television adverts. Additionally, 67% of respondents agreed that there are currently too many gambling advertisements and 66% expressed concern about their impact on children. Moreover, 61% of those surveyed opposed the use of gambling logos on football shirts, emphasizing the public’s desire for a change in how gambling is marketed, particularly in sports.

Impact of Gambling Ads on Behavior

The report also sheds light on the direct impact of gambling advertisements on individuals’ gambling behaviors. According to the survey, 24% of respondents who had gambled in the past year took gambling-related actions after seeing an advert. This figure jumps to 79% among those experiencing gambling-related problems, with 54% of this group stating that advertisements make it difficult to reduce their gambling activities. Furthermore, 51% reported that ads make it challenging to watch professional football without feeling the urge to place a bet.

GambleAware’s chief executive Zoë Osmond commented on the findings: “Exposure to gambling advertising normalizes gambling and makes it seem like just ‘harmless fun’ without showing the risks of gambling addiction and harm. This is why we have published our new report, to call on the next government to do more to regulate gambling advertising, particularly around sport where children and young people can see it.”

Proposed Measures for Safer Gambling Advertising

In response to the survey findings, GambleAware has proposed several measures to make gambling advertising safer. These include implementing a pre-watershed ban on broadcast advertising across television, radio, and video on demand. This would expand on the current voluntary whistle-to-whistle ban, covering only 2% of all broadcast gambling ads.

GambleAware also advocates for all advertisements to include independent, evidence-based health warnings with clear signposting to support services. This approach aims to help those needing assistance by directing them to appropriate resources.

Another recommendation is to ban gambling marketing at sports events, including removing sponsorships from sports clothing, merchandise, and stadiums. The Premier League has already agreed to phase out gambling logos on shirts by the 2026-27 season, and GambleAware suggests extending this ban to all sports.

Barriers to Seeking Help for Gambling Problems

Aside from advertising concerns, the report also addresses barriers to seeking help for gambling-related harm. It found that 64% of respondents who had experienced gambling problems had not spoken to anyone about it. The main reasons cited were feelings of shame or guilt (17%) and fear of judgment (13%).

Despite these barriers, the survey reveals that 76% of those who did seek help felt better after doing so, and 63% believed they would have felt better if they had sought help sooner. The primary motivations for seeking support included gambling’s negative impact on mental health (23%), financial issues (22%), and the desire for help to stop gambling (21%).

Source:

GambleAware study suggests public support for gambling advertising restrictions, igamingbusiness.com, June 27, 2024.

The post Public Backs Stronger Regulations on Gambling Ads, Survey Finds appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The development of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) has received a significant endorsement from Professor Patrick Sturgis of the London School of Economics, marking a crucial step towards the production of reliable and comprehensive gambling statistics for the nation.

GSGB Receives Acclaim for Methodological Excellence and Innovative Approach

The independent assessment, released on February 19, lauded the GSGB’s methodological approach, describing it as “exemplary in all respects.” Professor Sturgis, while acknowledging the importance of the survey’s development, also offered several recommendations aimed at addressing key unresolved issues.

The GSGB represents a departure from previous methodologies, transitioning from quarterly telephone interviews to a ‘push-to-web’ survey focused solely on gambling activities. This shift, according to Sturgis, allows for a considerably larger sample size, with an anticipated 20,000 annual responses compared to the previous 4,000.

In his evaluation, Sturgis highlighted the success of the pilot study conducted by the UK Gambling Commission in January and February 2022, which yielded 1,078 responses. The survey’s response rate of 21% was deemed comparable to similar ‘push-to-web’ surveys conducted in the UK, indicating its feasibility and potential for accurate population estimates.

“The move to self-completion was the correct decision,” stated Sturgis, emphasizing the necessity of adapting survey methodologies to address declining response rates and the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. He commended the UK Gambling Commission for consulting widely with stakeholders and adhering to industry standards in developing the GSGB.

UKGC Embraces Sturgis’s Recommendations for Improved Gambling Data

Despite endorsing the survey’s development, Sturgis outlined seven recommendations for the UK Gambling Commission to address remaining unresolved issues. These recommendations include conducting research to understand survey response biases, evaluating question biases for online respondents, and exploring opportunities to benchmark GSGB estimates against face-to-face interviews in the future.

Tim Miller, executive director of the UK Gambling Commission, welcomed Sturgis’s recommendations, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to leveraging better data for improved regulation and outcomes. Miller emphasized the importance of understanding the impact of changes to the survey design and methodology, signaling a commitment to ongoing evolution and improvement.

The endorsement of the GSGB marks a significant milestone in the quest for more accurate and comprehensive gambling statistics in the UK.

The UK Gambling Commission aims to enhance gambling regulations by improving data collection methodologies, believing that better data leads to better regulation and outcomes.

Through extensive consultations and collaboration with stakeholders, including the government and academic experts, the Commission made significant progress in developing the GSGB, to produce reliable statistics to inform policymaking and ensure effective regulation of the gambling sector.

The post Renowned Expert Backs Revolutionary UK Gambling Survey appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Scientific Games has once again expressed its commitment to responsible gaming education by backing the National Council on Problem Gambling’s annual Gift Responsibly campaign. This is notably the sixth holiday season the digital games, technology and analytics company has promoted the initiative.

The campaign advocates against the gifting of lottery cards to minors during the holidays, alleging that such gifts can lead to gambling harm. Exposure to such content from a young age risks normalizing gambling to kids and teaching them to associate gambling with festivities.

Scientific Games prides itself on being an exemplary company when it comes to responsible gambling. The company’s Healthy Play program, for example, provides a number of reliable science-based tools and practices that lottery operators can use to protect their players and prevent minors from participating in games of chance. The program was recently awarded a 2023 Communitas Award for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility.

In addition, Scientific Games’ Responsible Gaming Study and toolkit provides further insights into the sector, increasing lottery literacy and encouraging healthy play. The company is one of the first lottery providers to ever receive global certification as a Responsible Gaming Supplier from the World Lottery Association.

Minors Should Never Play the Lottery

Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, praised Scientific Games’ commitment to promoting the Gift Responsibly campaign. He said that the company’s participation in the initiative will help to reduce youth problem gambling.

Whyte added that minors should not play lotteries, not even during the holidays.

Lottery games should never be given to minors, during the holidays or at any other time. Childhood exposure to lottery products can lead to lifelong problems, and youth problem gambling is a public health issue.

Keith Whyte, exec director, NCPG

Carla Schaefer, Scientific Games’ vice president of responsible gaming, also commented on the matter, praising the Gift Responsibly campaign. She said that the initiative aligns with her company’s desire to prevent youth problem gambling and promote responsible lottery participation.

Increasing lottery literacy gives players the knowledge they need to play responsibly and keep lottery games out of minors’ hands.

Carla Schaefer, VP of responsible gaming, Scientific Games

In other news, Scientific Games recently confirmed its plans to accelerate investment in its iLottery Content Hub. Several days earlier, the company released a Monopoly-inspired lottery game.

The post Scientific Games Backs NCPG’s Gift Responsibly Campaign for Sixth Year in a Row appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced Tuesday it plans to represent the interests of the state in a years-long legal battle over unlawful gaming compacts that resulted in losses of state resources. Back in 2020, Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office reached revised gaming compacts with four Native tribes, the Otoe-Missouria, the Kialegee Tribal Town, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, as well as the Comanche Nation. This prompted four other tribal nations, the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Citizen Potawatomi, to file federal lawsuits, challenging the Governor’s authority for the signed gambling compacts.

The prime issue with the compacts orchestrated by Gov. Stitt was that he didn’t have the legislative authority to enact them. The legal battle continued with the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling twice that the aforementioned gambling compacts are invalid, despite the Governor submitting them to the federal government for approval.

State’s Relationship with Tribal Organizations Suffered Damage

Now, the state’s Attorney General, confirmed he joins the lawsuit to defend the interests of the state and informed the Governor of his decision via a personal phone call and an official letter. In his letter, Drummond said that Gov. Stitt can freely deal with the tribes but cannot violate the established laws currently in effect in Oklahoma. “I am taking this action in order to uphold the law and defend our constitution,” wrote the Attorney General.

Additionally, Drummond criticized the Governor for damaging the relations between the state and tribal organizations while at the same time not following the law. He claimed that the Governor didn’t enact gambling compacts that would bring benefits to Oklahomans but chose to engage in “costly legal battles.” Drummond pointed out: “Millions of dollars of state resources have been squandered on these futile efforts.”

“Oklahoma’s relationship with our tribal partners has suffered greatly as a result of your divisive rhetoric and refusal to follow the law,“

wrote Attorney General Gentner Drummond

According to the recent statement released by the Attorney General, there are nearly $600,000 in accumulated expenses for private law firms that are currently defending the unlawfully signed gambling compacts. He claimed that other legal battles have resulted in millions of losses under the tenure of Gov. Stitt. The Attorney General pointed out that he represents a “broad coalition of state leaders” that have an ultimate goal to repair the damage that has been done due to the unlawful gambling compacts with the tribal operators.

In light of the situation, earlier this week, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat hinted that lawmakers may consider taking the authority related to the negotiation of tribal gambling compacts from the Governor. It is yet to be confirmed how can such change be enacted.

The post AG in Oklahoma Backs State in Unlawful Gaming Compacts Lawsuit appeared first on Keno Wizard.