T
he share of on-line gamblers in search of help for issues associated to fit machines has virtually doubled previously 5 years, new figures present.
Of those that disclosed difficulties with on-line playing on the National Gambling Helpline final 12 months, three in 5 (60%) cited on-line slots as one of many primary actions they struggled with – up from 34% in 2018-19, in line with knowledge from the service’s operator, GamCare.
The findings, which come because the Government consults on introducing most stake limits for on-line slot video games, present that 73% of 5,660 callers to the helpline final 12 months mentioned they’d struggled with on-line playing.
The knowledge highlights that it’s now disproportionately on-line slots which might be the principle problem for many individuals who name the National Gambling Helpline
The proportion of individuals citing challenges with betting exchanges – websites that enable betting immediately in opposition to different gamers – has elevated from 0.3% to 7.6% over the past 5 years, whereas the proportion of gamblers having issues with on-line monetary markets comparable to cryptocurrency and high-risk buying and selling platforms has elevated from 0.02% to 2.17%.
However the information means that the proportion of those that have had difficulties with on-line spots betting has fallen, from 34% in 2018-19 to twenty% in 2022-23.
Colin Walsh, GamCare’s lived expertise supervisor, mentioned: “There is still a perception that gambling harm predominantly comes from betting on horses or sports events.
“In the past five years, we have broadly seen a trend where people often start gambling on these activities but eventually transition into other areas of online gambling, where it can be easy to lose sight of how much time and money is being spent.
“The data highlights that it is now disproportionately online slots that are the main challenge for many people who call the National Gambling Helpline.
“I know from my own experience – and the experiences of those in my network – how difficult this form of gambling can be, and how isolating it can feel if you find yourself caught in a negative cycle.
“But I also know that it is possible to get through it and that there is free help for anyone struggling with it.”
