According to a survey commissioned by the UK Gambling Commission, the British public has improved its attitudes towards the country’s gambling industry. This, after a long period when attitudes were shown to worsen over time.
Over 4,000 people were polled in December 2021, showing year on year improvements, compared to the last time questions about this issue were asked in 2016.
Key findings in the Gambling Commission survey:
- 42.6% of the population said that they had gambled in the past month prior to being surveyed.
- When the National Lottery was taken out of the equation, 28.6% of the population had gambled in the four weeks before being surveyed.
- Gambling rates for male and female players across all age groups were stable.
- In 2019, 21.1% of the population said that they gambled online at sites such as Microgaming-powered online casinos. The latest survey showed that the number had increased significantly to 25.3%.
- The National Lottery is the most popular form of gambling in the UK. However, EuroMillions is now a more popular game than the brand’s flagship Lotto draw.
- There was an increase in the play of land-based fruit machines and/or slot machines.
- There was a decrease in the play of virtual gaming machines found at bookies (eg. fixed-odds betting terminals).