New study examines U.K. online gambling activity during COVID-19 lockdown

[The Buzz]

Research firm Survation polled 1,010 people aged 18 or older in the U.K. between 20-21 April, including 537 people who participate in racing/sports or casino/slots betting online.

Even though most respondents to the survey were more likely to have reduced their gambling since the start of the outbreak, that didn't stop the mainstream media from cherry picking some of the results.

Overall, 64% of regular online gamblers – those who gamble at least once a week – said they are either gambling the same amount as before or more since the lock down. Furthermore, a quarter of those who typically bet at least once a week said they were still doing so, while 28% had increased their activity, and only 11% said they were gambling a lot more.

Of course, The Guardian jumped all over the study, using the misleading headline "Frequent gamblers betting more despite coronavirus sports lockdown, study says"

Predictably, the article then provided quotes of caution from gambling disorder "experts":

Matt Gaskell, clinical director for a network of NHS gambling disorder clinics in the north of England, agreed that the findings indicated that a government review should trigger significant changes to regulation.
Advertisement

“As well as the conditions of the lockdown, what we are seeing are the harmful consequences of ‘light touch’ regulation and the responsible gambling industry mantra,” he said.

“We urgently need measures to protect people gambling more than they can afford to lose, a stop to the ubiquitous advertising and marketing and a comprehensive review of the Gambling Act of 2005. Forget self-regulation – we need the government to step forward.”

Other key findings found that 41% of regular online gamblers have signed up to new gambling accounts and 40% of regular online gamblers think the government should make it more difficult to gamble online, compared to 23% who think the government should make it easier.

Here is a link to the study: https://www.survation.com/covid-19-s...irus-lockdown/

And here is a link to The Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/society/...virus-lockdown

[MMM]

Basically irrelevant survey without additional details. These guys wanted to show certain conclusions and made it happen.

I mean split between verticals? Comparison to how many open new accounts in regular period vs now? etc.

Unless i am missing something this study is on lower level then my Death penalty servey which I did when i was 11.

[Sherlock]

I am curious about the death penalty survey. I was writing since 6 years short illustrated novels about a fictional character: thief, criminal, gambler and rapist. Those documents indeed have much higher informational level than anything produced by those rats.

Right now, being in country B I wanted to go to country A. The embassy of country B in country A provides some info on webpages about entering the country A. It is the only document they made during corona. To make the story short, the report is wrong. Not just a bit, but completely wrong. They operate with some blacklists, while country B has completely closed borders.

Now if those ******* can not do even such simple job, no one sane should take their random ass-outputs seriously. I do not even know why they get attention and backlinks here. The sole purpose of those documents is to fill something with random words. Just talking about it gives credibility to morons who should kill themselves.

[Former Member 14]

morons who should kill themselves.

I think that's a bit harsh, mate... and seriously uncalled for.

Agree these surveys etc., are almost always fuelled by a hidden agenda.

I also agree posting this linked cr#p here, gives credence to these idiots wrapped in morons.

But reiterating, "killing themselves", there's no need for those words.

[Sherlock]

Old snowflake? What is wrong with you and this culture which is so much scared of death and suicide?
In Asian cultures recognising own existence as useless implied the last thing that a person was able to do for society or family. A suicide. This way the person has last chance to keep his/hers own dignity, even when the life goes completely wrong. For me it is ok and for few billions of people as well.

[Former Member 14]

For me it is ok and for few billions of people as well.

I'm sure there's plenty of ideologies which, I'm ok with, and billions of others are too, but certain societies aren't. Just because I don't agree with you, doesn't make me wrong.

[Pokerface]

Interesting article. I would have thought the numbers would be higher during the current crisis for various reasons.

[Nenad]

Not sure about this survey. There is a message here for sure...