The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) published new evidence related to the Government’s review of gaming machines and social responsibility measures.
The review issued by the UK Government covers several areas of primary importance, including the maximum stakes and prizes, as well as the measures that should be taken in order to reduce the risks inflicted by gambling activities and problem gambling behaviour.
The key gambling regulatory authority revealed that in order to help its advice to be developed it has commissioned a special analysis of the co-relation between the gambling involvement, or the number of gambling activities a person takes part in, and problem gambling. In addition, the UK Gambling Commission has collected detailed data from gambling operators about the customers’ preferences to gaming machines of the B2 and B3 category, and how these machines are used by players. The research has been made by covering approximately 20 billion plays on gaming machines situated in adult gaming centres (AGC) and specialised bingo venues.
The UK Gambling Commission announced in a special publication that as being the competent authority to regulate the country’s gambling market, it published the data gathered to ensure transparency and clarity on the matter.
Types of Gambling and Gambling Involvement
The competent gambling regulatory body of the UK published special analysis dedicated to the co-relation between customers’ gambling involvement and problem gambling. The UKGC revealed that last year it replicated an analysis conducted by LaPlante et al back in 2011. According to the data released in the report, all statistically significant co-relations between problem gambling behaviour and individual gambling activities have been greatly reduced or even eliminated by certain control measures imposed on gambling involvement. The only exception was the case of bookmakers-held machines.
As revealed by the UK gambling regulatory body, in the period in 2010 and 2012, the original conclusion that there was no proved evidence that certain gambling activities predetermine problem gambling behaviour. However, the 2007 finding that the above-mentioned machines in local bookmakers did not persist in 2010 and 2012.
The Commission also revealed that there may not be a direct co-relation between problem gambling and betting on certain gambling activities, but still, there is a large probability for loyalty card holders who play the aforementioned machines in bookmakers to develop gambling problems, even when their involvement is controlled by the competent authorities.
Cross-Venue Machines Data
The competent regulatory body revealed it has collected and used data collected from machines situated in licensed betting offices (LBO), adult gaming centres (AGC) and specialised bingo venues. The data obtained reveal patterns of customers’ play on the same category but also includes the same activity carried out in different gambling venues.
This is actually the first time when cross-venue data has been made available to public.
- Author
Daniel Williams
