The UK Gambling Commission has, for the first time, published data on public perceptions of gambling. In its annual data omnibus survey, conducted by ICM Research and published quarterly, the latest updates for the year to December 2009 cover both participation in gambling activities and information on how far people think that gambling is fair and can be trusted and whether gambling is associated with criminal activity.

On the subject of gambling participation in Great Britain, survey data to December 2009 reveals that over the year 55.2% of the 8,000 adults surveyed had participated in at least one form of gambling in the previous four weeks, including gambling by remote means. The number of respondents participating in at least one form of remote gambling in 2009 has risen to 10.5%, continuing the steady annual increase from 7.2% in 2006. The National Lottery remains the most popular form of gambling activity, being the only gambling undertaken by 31.3% of those surveyed. 3.3% played fruit or slot machines but only 0.9% had bet on table games in a casino.

Key findings on the public perception of gambling show that over the year almost half the 4,000 adults surveyed thought that gambling in the country is conducted fairly and can be trusted. This figure (49.6%) was slightly up on the previous year (48.8%). However, 41.3% of people also thought gambling is associated with criminal activity, although those surveyed who actually participate in some form of gambling were less likely to think that. The categories of crime perceived as being associated with gambling were theft to support addiction (14% of respondents), money laundering (7.9%), violent crime (7.4%) and other serious/organised crime (7%).

The omnibus survey is a syndicated multi client survey which runs regularly among representative samples. Clients share the setup costs of the survey and in return can achieve large sample sizes at minimal cost. In 2009 the Commission had three sets of questions in omnibus surveys: participation in all gambling activities (sample size, n = 7,029); participation in remote gambling (n = 8,053); and public perceptions towards gambling (n = 4,047). The Gambling Commission is responsible for licensing and regulating all gambling in Great Britain other than the National Lottery and spread betting, which are the responsibility of the National Lottery Commission and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) respectively. (E-02.09.10)

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