The thrill of a win, the flashing lights, and a catchy soundtrack, together with inciting ‘free spin’ offers, can create a powerful lure in the world of online gambling – but as the old saying goes: ‘The house always wins’.
In fact, the UK gambling industry doesn’t just win, it wins big every single year.
Across the 2019-20 financial year, the industry raked in a total of £14.3billion, according to UK regulator the Gambling Commission.
But it comes at a cost, with high-profile cases of gambling addiction highlighting the plight of the hundreds of thousands of so-called ‘problem gamblers’ in the UK.
Celebrities including former footballer-turned TV pundit Paul Merson have in the past opened up about their issues with gambling.
In an emotional television moment last year, the former Arsenal forward admitted his betting was ‘out of control’ and described his urge to bet as ‘relentless’.
Meanwhile, I’m a Celebrity and Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt is recently said to have helped her mother, Betty, get therapy after her online gambling habit ‘spiralled out of control’ during lockdown, according to the Sun.
Online gambling – and with it online problem gambling – is a growing talking point within the industry.
More than 300,000 Britons are described as ‘problem gamblers’ by the Gambling Commission – with one-million more considered to be a ‘low risk’ of future addiction.
In 2019-2020, firms raked in more than £14.3billion, according to UK regulator the Gambling Commission. Pictured: Graphs which show the Gross Gambling Yield – the amount retained by gambling operators after the payment of winnings but before the deduction of operation costs – in total (left) and from slot machines (right)
The number of people gambling online is also on the increase. Approximately 11 million had gambled online in 2019-20 – up 3 per cent since December 2018. Pictured: A Gambling Commission graph showing the trust in gambling (pictured left) with the change in online gambling habits (right)
I’m a Celebrity and Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt (pictured) is recently said to have helped her mother, Betty, get therapy after her online gambling habit ‘spiralled out of control’ during lockdown, according to the Sun
Celebrities including former footballer-turned TV pundit Paul Merson have in the past opened up about their issues with gambling – with the Arsenal forward admitting last year his gambling was ‘out of control’
While Gross Gambling Yield – the amount retained by gambling operators after the payment of winnings but before the deduction of operation costs – fell by half-a-per cent this year compared to last, online gambling profits actually rose by 4.3 per cent.
According to the Gambling Commission, approximately 11 million gambled online in 2019-20 – up 3 per cent since December 2018
Of those, half used their mobile phone to gamble – increase of 6 per cent.
But having a casino or a betting shop at your finger tips 24/7 also comes with problems.
According to the Gambling Commission’s most recent report, approximately 340,000 adults are considered ‘problem gamblers’, while another 550,000 are classed as a moderate risk.
Perhaps even more of a concern is that 1.2million are classed as a low risk at becoming a problem gambler – described as someone with an urge to gamble continuously despite negative consequences or a desire to stop.
In a bid to tackle the growing issue, the Gambling Commission carried out a review of online gambling in 2018.
The report led the regulator to introduce a ban on the use of credit cards for gambling.
Away from the online gambling world, the Government introduced a limit on Fixed Odd Betting Terminals (FOBTs) in betting shops in 2018, limiting the max bet to £2 after a year-long study into the machines.
Players could previously bet up to £100 a spin on the machines – dubbed the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling.
But the move drew criticism from industry experts and bookies, including William Hill who closed 700 betting shops citing the decision – resulting in more than 4,000 jobs in an industry which employs nearly 100,000 people in total.
Others claimed the issue of problem gambling had been rapidly moving online anyway a long time before the restrictions on FOBTs were put in place.
As part of its drive to further crackdown on the causes of problem gambling, the Commission has vowed to further strengthen protections in relation to unfair practices, complaints and disputes, customer interaction and online age and identity verification.
Following the outbreak of Covid-19 in the UK, the regulatory body also wrote to online operators reminding them of their responsibilities to their customers.
Operators meanwhile also have their own policies and in-house rules for customers, including daily account limits – which allow players to set their own limit on how much they spend in a set period of time.
Many major betting firms also offer self-exclusion periods, where customers can ban themselves from certain websites and apps for up to five years.
According to the Gambling Commission’s most recent report, approximately 340,000 adults are problem gamblers, while another 550,000 are classed as a moderate risk. Pictured: A Gambling Commission Graphic which shows the breakdown of income from gambling
The firms also promise to ‘use all reasonable endeavours to ensure compliance’ with their self-exclusion policies.
Gamblers can also access free third party services such as GAMSTOP, which allow users to restrict their online gambling activities, while there are support services through charities such as BeGambleAware.
Meanwhile, among experts in the field of addiction treatment, there is a growing concern about an increase in online gambling, particularly during lockdown.
Priory consultant psychiatrist Dr Niall Campbell, an addiction expert based at the Priory’s Roehampton Hospital in south-west London, told MailOnline; ‘I am seeing an increasing number of patients with gambling addiction under lockdown.
‘It is incredibly easy to “gamble on the go” on smartphone apps or laptops or iPads 24 hours a day.
Priory consultant psychiatrist Dr Niall Campbell, an addiction expert based at the Priory’s Roehampton Hospital in south-west London, said he has seen an increase in problem gambling in lockdown
‘In lockdown, when there is little to do and people are either killing time, or working excessive hours, and stressed about their finances, they can fall into addictive behaviours.
‘Many people, under considerable stress and often with little money, are looking for ways of solving their financial problems or distracting themselves from them.’
‘Accessibility and anonymity means problem gamblers can slip under the radar.’
On spotting someone with a potential gambling problem, he added: ‘The obvious signs to look out for in others are secretive use of the phone, being on the phone far more than before, appearing to run out of money with no purchases to show for it, borrowing money without being able to repay it, and appearing very irritable when discussing finances.’
Last month, a hard-hitting academic report described gambling addiction as an urgent public health issue that must be taken as seriously as alcoholism and smoking.
The report, by Sheffield University and published in Lancet Public Health, reviewed existing evidence for what works to reduce the harm to individuals and communities as a result of gambling.
The team, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, found the regulatory, education and treatment services that successfully reduced the harm caused by smoking and drinking ‘have not been systematically developed and evaluated for gambling’.
Earlier this year a House of Lords’ report urged ministers to impose a levy on gambling operators to fund NHS addiction treatment.
The Betting and Gaming Council last month said there was ‘no evidence problem gambling has increased during the pandemic’, adding: ‘[Our] members have increased funding for research, education and treatment and regularly intervene where customers are at risk.’
The Daily Mail has called for action against unscrupulous betting firms through its Stop the Gambling Predators campaign.
***If you have been affected by problem gambling, you can call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133***