Gambling Addicts Continue to Struggle with Mobile Betting Sites
Gambling addiction in the UK
Gambling addiction is certainly not a new wave hitting the UK society. Recent surveys have shown that more than two million people in the country are either problem gamblers or at a high chance of becoming addicts. This is a problem for the government, it always has been; not much progress has been made in tackling the problem.
The Gambling Commission recently published a report, which showed that the number of above-sixteen problem gamblers in the country has increased threefold in three years, indicating that about 430,000 people have fallen prey to this serious habit. Experts also warn that gambling addiction is only going to scale up if proper measures are not taken right now.
Are mobile betting sites the real problem?
Yes, to a great extent. The National Problem Gambling Clinic (NPGC) reports a 63 percent rise in the number of mobile gambling addicts in 2016-17, which was 24 percent in 2012-13. If we are to look at statistics, the number of gambling addicts have reached 778 in 2016-17 from 632 in 2012-13. This has called for software companies to beef up measures to block gambling sites with the help of applications. The Remote Gambling Association is also encouraging people to resort to responsible gambling.
Tony Franklin, a campaigner and a recovering addict, also stressed that the government should reinforce their measures to control gambling in the country. He also expresses the failure of various self-regulatory measures, as promoted by the Gambling Act, 2005. Just like banks follow responsible lending, gambling companies should promote responsible gambling.
The figures released by the NPGC show that 63 percent of patients were struggling with mobile gambling addiction, 59% suffered from sports betting addiction, and the same percent suffered from fixed odds betting addiction. The average waiting period for getting admittance into the clinic is five months, but the statistics show that some patients waited for almost a year. NPGC’S consultant psychologist, Dr. Neil Smith, explained that waiting times depend on a host of factors, and efforts are underway to reduce the waiting time for people.
A spokesperson for the Remote Gambling Association also believes that mobile phones have become a primary reason behind people’s gambling addiction problem. But technological advantages are making it possible to promote responsible gambling to some extent. A review of the gambling sector is currently underway, which includes promoting socially responsible gambling activities and regulating gambling advertisements.
