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'Surprise' over gambling figures | 'Surprise' over gambling figures |
(8 minutes later) | |
The internet and other new forms of gambling have not led to an increase in people having a flutter since 1999, a Gambling Commission study has found. | The internet and other new forms of gambling have not led to an increase in people having a flutter since 1999, a Gambling Commission study has found. |
In fact, due to a drop in the National Lottery sales, the numbers of people gambling fell from 72% in 1999 to 68%. | In fact, due to a drop in the National Lottery sales, the numbers of people gambling fell from 72% in 1999 to 68%. |
Commission chairman Peter Dean said more than 99% of adults who gambled did so harmlessly but there were still 250,000 "problem gamblers" in Britain. | |
The findings are expected to influence Gordon Brown's review of super-casinos. | The findings are expected to influence Gordon Brown's review of super-casinos. |
The Gambling Prevalence Study questioned 9,003 people between September 2006 and March 2007 about 17 types of gambling - from scratch cards to casinos. | |
'Largely unchanged' | |
It looked at the popularity of different types of gambling, attitudes to gambling and the prevalence of problem gambling and followed a similar study in 1999. | |
Mr Dean said he was "surprised" by the findings as they had been expecting an increase in the number of people taking part in gambling - and the amount of problem gambling. | Mr Dean said he was "surprised" by the findings as they had been expecting an increase in the number of people taking part in gambling - and the amount of problem gambling. |
Since 1999 there have been changes in legislation and an increase in the types of gambling available - such as internet poker sites and fixed odds betting terminals. | |
WHO GAMBLES ON WHAT National Lottery - 57%Scratch cards - 20%Horse races - 17%Slot machines - 14% | |
But Mr Dean said problem gambling was "largely unchanged" from 1999 - although concerns remained about the 250,000 people whose lives were harmed by gambling. | |
The National Lottery remained the most popular form of gambling, but the amount of people taking part had dropped from 65% in 1999 to 57% in 2007, the surveys suggest. | |
Participation in all other types of gambling, excluding the lottery, had risen from 46% in 1999 to 48%. | |
'Valuable benchmark' | |
Only 3% of those questioned gambled online, 3% used fixed odds betting terminals and 4% gambled in a casino. | |
Problem gambling, measured using two systems, remained at the same level as in 1999 - 0.6%. | |
Mr Dean said: "We welcome this report, it provides us a valuable benchmark for the future. | |
"It indicates that problem gambling has largely been unchanged since 1999, but we remain concerned about the upwards of a quarter of a million people whose lives, and those of their families, are harmed by gambling." | |
Super-casinos | |
He said the findings would be useful to measure the effects of the new Gambling Act, which came into force on 1 September, and brought casinos, bookmakers and online betting under one regulatory body. | |
It also made it easier to advertise casinos and online gambling sites on the television. | |
Critics say it could increase gambling addiction but ministers say the new laws offer better controls and protection for children and vulnerable gamblers. | |
In July Mr Brown said the government's plan to use super-casinos to regenerate run-down areas would be reviewed - angering business leaders in Manchester, which had won the bid to host the first one. | |
The Gambling Commission, which carried out the survey, said it was not meant to measure the impact of regional "super" casinos - this would be carried out in separate research to be commissioned by the government. | The Gambling Commission, which carried out the survey, said it was not meant to measure the impact of regional "super" casinos - this would be carried out in separate research to be commissioned by the government. |
Mr Brown announced the review in one of his first prime minister's questions, saying the issue would be "subject to reflection" over the summer. | |