The UK Gambling Commission has updated its remote gambling participation data, which shows a slight increase (0.2%) on the previous calendar year. Since 2006 the number of people surveyed who said they had participated in at least one form of remote gambling within the past month has been rising steadily, albeit slowly. In 2006 it was 7.2%, in 2007 8.8% and in 2008 9.7%. Remote betting on the National Lottery has risen from 5.3% in 2006 to 7.5% in the year to March 2009.

According to the Gambling Commission survey of 8,000 adults, the growth in participation in remote gambling is explained largely by increased online participation in the National Lottery. If those only playing National Lottery games remotely are excluded, 5.6% of respondents had participated in remote gambling in the year to March 2009, compared with 5.6% in 2008, 5.2% in 2007 and 5.1% in 2006. This shows a relatively low level of online gambling activity by British adults despite increasing levels of advertising by the sector.

Those participating in remote gambling remain more likely to be male than female, and are more likely to be aged 18-44. Remote gambling via a computer, laptop or handheld device was most popular (8.2% of all respondents), followed by gambling via mobile phone (2.8%) and interactive/digital TV (2.1%). Since 2006 the numbers participating in the different forms of remote gambling, other than the National Lottery, have stayed remarkably similar, with only sports betting showing a marked rise – 1.9% in 2006 and 2.6% in the year to March 2009. (E-05.28.09)

© Copyright 2009 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage