GambleAware, in conjunction with Bournemouth University, reports that young adults are at higher risk of harmful gambling behavior. The charity calls for more stringent regulatory measures.
GambleAware Reveals Result of Study
GambleAware, an independent charity and strategic commissioner of gambling harms education, has recently published the results from a joint study with the UK’s Bournemouth University. The study included over 40,000 participants from the Great Britain Treatment and Support Survey. It examined the demographics, motivations, behaviors, and risks related to 17 different types of gambling devices, such as physical machines, online casino games, and loot boxes.
Data shows that players who use land-based electronic gaming machines, for example, those in bookmakers and casinos, were over ten times more likely than average to experience gambling-related harm. In addition, the research found that online casinos, which often offer quick rewards and fast-paced play, are four times more likely to lead players to harmful gambling practices. Another feature linked with gambling-related harm, common in a lot of modern video games, is loot boxes.
What’s more concerning is that these often appeal to younger audiences, often below the age of 18. According to the study, half of the loot box users were at some level of risk. Many of them displayed behaviors typical of problem gambling.
The results of the study also show that people who engage in multiple gambling activities, also experience a larger risk of developing harmful gambling habits. The National Lottery’s widespread impact was also examined, showing that a total of 600,000 individuals experiencing problem gambling had taken part in the draw, while 500,000 had played scratch cards.
GambleAware Calls for More Stringent Regulations
With numbers like this, GambleAware calls for stricter regulations to prevent the development of harmful gambling, particularly for younger players. The organization notes that there should be more stringent regulations on loot boxes in video games, suggesting they be limited only to those aged 18 and above.
According to senior lecturer in psychology at Bournemouth University Dr Ruijie Wang, the study’s results highlight the need for such measures. Dr Wang further emphasized the necessity to regulate online slots and physical gambling machines due to their high risk of harm to young adults.
Calls for the implementation of more stringent measures come at a time when the UK gambling regulator focuses on combating illegal gambling. A large part of the effort is aimed at content and software from online licensed gambling providers.
GamblingAware further calls for more regulations regarding the availability and design of physical gambling machines. This also includes limiting and reducing the number of machines in venues, slowing spin speeds, lowering stakes, and implementing mandatory breaks for players.