According to the 2021 NHS Health Survey for England, which was released recently, the headline rate of problem gambling has fallen from 0.4% to just 0.4%.
The Office for National Statistics conducted the survey.
This percentage compares to the 0.5% reported by the 2018 survey. That was the last time such data was recorded.
The HSE survey is an NHS annual statistical survey that examines the health and health-related behavior of people living in England. The body has been cataloging problem gambling data intermittently since 2019. The ONS collected the data between 1 January 2020 and 31 March 2022.
The survey found that the rate of problem gambling among men dropped from 0.8% to 0.6% between 2018 and 2021. For women, it fell from 0.3% to 0.1 %.
The ONS asked over 3700 people to describe their gambling habits. They used two assessments, the Problem Gambling Severity Index and DSM-IV scores, to assess the severity of problem gambling.
NHS Problem gambling results match Gambling Commission
The results are similar to a recent quarterly gambling prevalence survey which found a headline gambling rate of 0.3%.
The HSE has warned against comparing the current findings to previous ones. The data collection was different from previous years due to the impact on the Covid-19 pandemic. Telephone interviews replaced in-person fieldwork.
During the relevant time period, the government also closed many gambling establishments such as bingo halls, betting shops, and casinos. This complicates comparisons to previous periods.
Industry applauds health survey findings
The industry trade association, the Betting and Gaming Council(BGC), highlighted that these results showed that England’s problem gambling rate was low by international standards.
Michael Dugher, the chief executive of the organization, said that the organisation was pleased to see another independent study confirm the fact that the UK’s problem gambling rate is on the decline.
Dugher said, “This latest study from the NHS – the most comprehensive one in three years — confirms our belief that using technology and multiple markers to harm is the best way to identify and target vulnerable or problem-playing customers.”
Dugher supports HSE’s affordability checks policy
Dugher also cited the HSE results as proof in support of the government’s approach to implementing “frictionless affordability checks”.
While these numbers are encouraging, we will not be complacent. We will continue to work closely with the government and our members in order to meet the white paper, and to drive up standards.
This study is a reality check for the anti-gambling prohibitionists, who have been lobbying tirelessly on behalf of their campaign based on a false belief that problem gambling is causing ill health. They continue to be disappointed by the hard evidence at every turn.
