GambleAware Report
A new report from GambleAware reveals that two-thirds of adults in the UK with gambling problems attempt to hide it instead of seeking help. The report, led by leading market research company Ipsos, was focused on looking at barriers adults face when opening up about problem gambling.
The report came after Safer Gambling Week, which is an annual industry-wide attempt to increase awareness of gambling-related harm. Overall, 4,207 adults from across the UK took part in the survey.
From the report, of those who said they were suffering from gambling addiction or gambling-related harm, only 36% of them said they had spoken to someone about their issues. The other 64% said they had not sought help, with 39% of those saying it was because they felt a stigma about doing so.
The study found that the key barriers identified as reasons not to talk were guilt, fear of judgement, or feeling they could handle the problem themselves. It also highlighted a delay for most people in seeking help.
Gambling Reform Report
Lottoland has published the findings of a survey conducted by Ireland Thinks detailing the Irish public’s reactions to proposed gambling reform. The survey interviewed 1,387 people, and while there was a lot of support for the proposed changes, there were also some notable concerns.
The survey found that 75% of the people who were interviewed were in favour of the introduction of new gambling regulations in the country. The Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 is due to be finalised in the coming months, marking the first major changes in Irish gambling for decades.
Over-Restriction Concerns
However, not all respondents were pleased with the findings. 19% of those surveyed said that they would consider looking at unregulated gambling options if they felt the restrictions put in place were too severe.
The Irish Government is set to create a new regulator, The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, which will regulate all gambling in the country similarly to the UKGC in the UK. Only a third of those surveyed said that they were aware of these changes.
Some of the proposed changes have caused controversy among both gamblers and operators, with some believing the proposals may be too strict. The government has said it intends to ban all gambling-related TV advertisements between 5:30 am and 9 pm, as well as imposing a €3,000 maximum win and €10 maximum bet limit.
Sensible Regulation Needed
Lottoland’s vice president, Mike Kirwan, shared his thoughts on the regulation. He said that there are risks involved with strict regulations and that there may be unintentional consequences if these rules are unclear or not implemented properly.
Kirwan reaffirmed his company’s stance on responsible gambling and a regulated Irish market. He said that they were committed to creating a legitimate legislative framework that works for everyone and would spread across the gambling, betting, and lottery sectors in Ireland.
He said that he believes the results of Lottoland’s survey show that the Irish public feels the same and that regulation should not be at the cost of an individual’s gambling freedom.
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