A new study by the Gambling Commission has found gamblers in the United Kingdom don’t trust support tools offered by bookmakers.
A report titled ‘qualitative research on the consequences of gambling’ was published by the government agency on May 8 and featured participants who had suffered severe consequences from their own gambling over the last year.
It was commissioned by the National Centre for Social Research and assessed preventing and reducing the harmful consequences of gambling – finding that punters stumbled across a number of barriers when accessing support measures.
Those who took part in the study reported a complete mistrust in the support tools provided by operators, describing it simply as a ‘PR exercise’ due to their business interest in more people gambling and spending.
UK Gambler Doesn’t Trust Support Tools: “They Know The Participant Will Carry On”
UK Gamblers Don't Trust Support Tools Offered By Operators UK Gamblers Don't Trust Support Tools Offered By Operators such as deposit and time limits.Most of the respondents agreed that gambling had negative financial consequences on their lives, leading to reduced spending on food or utility bills alongside a lack in social engagements due to funds lost.
Plenty also believed gambling had caused them to become distracted at work or study, with one revealing they had lost their home and another their job.
The study found that the negative effects of gambling addiction could strike at any point during a person’s betting journey, whether it be nearly immediately or decades in.
UK Gamblers Don't Trust Support Tools Offered By Operators UK Gamblers Don't Trust Support Tools Offered By Operators is a key move that needs to happen going forward and it needs to be both targeted and flexible.