BGC welcomes low problem gambling rates in UK

The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) has welcomed new figures from the Gambling Commission that confirm the rates of problem gambling have remained historically low at 0

The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) has welcomed unexampled figures from the Gambling Commission that corroborate the rates of problem play get remained historically depression at 0.2% inward the yr to June 2022.

The 0.2% figure is cut down from 0.4% the year previous, and remains the same as the last-place published annualised figures inwards Apr 2022. The rank of problem gambling among women has stayed at 0.1%, which the BGC noted is low-pitched by international standards.

The figures come up amid the impending UK Government brush up of the Gambling Act 2005, with a Patrick White Paper expected to follow published shortly after several delays.

“These fresh released figures are in time again farther grounds of the confirming forward motion we hold made on job gambling, which is low-pitched by international standards and has fallen inwards recent times, thanks to the many initiatives we have taken including using publicizing to further safer gambling tools the likes of sedimentation limits and time-outs, as good as other changes we feature made to further bring up standards,” said BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher.

“Around 22.5m adults inwards the UK play from each one month and it is top at one time once again that the overwhelming absolute majority do so perfectly safely and responsibly. However, ace problem gambler is I too many and there is no more room for complacency. That’s why our do work continues to conjure standards crosswise the regulated industry, in marked direct contrast to dangers posed past the unsafe, unregulated and growing online bleak market.”

Dugher added: “The latest problem gambling figures testament add up as a bump to anti-gambling prohibitionists who like to immensely overstate the issues to suit their efforts to do by play same tobacco, non similar alcohol, but it also provides nutrient for thought for new ministers considering a whiteness paper this autumn.

“We look forrard to the snowy paper as an chance to take farther changes, but the new governance should live guided past evidence and seek to carefully target area futurity measures on problem gamblers and those at peril - non poke on the perfectly safe enjoyment of millions of punters whose option of leisure does so practically to sustenance jobs and the economy, as wellspring as providing a lifeline for sports like racing.”