Gamcare claims smartphones increase youth gambling problems
New survey from Gamcare finds a 6.5% rise in 18-35-year-olds contacting gambling charity with mobile cited as key issue
A rise in the use of smartphones by young people has led to a significant increase in the number of problem gamblers, according to a report by GamCare.
The gambling charity’s new survey, first seen by Radio 1’s Newsbeat show, showed a 6.5% in the number of 18-35 year-olds contacting GamCare last year, with the charity citing smartphone-use and the growth of online betting as key reasons for the increase.
During the 12 month period 5,552 people in the 18-35 age group contacted GamCare, up from 5,215 in the previous year, which accounted for 63% of all calls and was an increase for the third consecutive year.
However, speaking with eGaming Review this morning, director of business at The Remote Gambling Association, Brian Wright, said he believed egaming operators were doing enough to help prevent addiction and felt it was unwise to single out young people in particular.
“[I think] it’s dangerous to identify vulnerable groups in this way,” he said. “We don’t see 18-35-year-olds as being more vulnerable and it’s dangerous to jump to conclusions.”
“Our view is that regulated EU online operators are doing enough from a prevention perspective,” he added.
In total 8,813 people called the gambling charity’s helpline, 30% of which were 18 to 24-year-olds, and a GamCare helpline adviser Mike Kenward said he believes weekly spending limits on gambling apps would help combat the problem.
“We have to find ways of helping people to manage and regulate themselves,” Kenward told BBC Newsbeat. “Gambling’s legal in this country and is in most places around the world. It’s going to be available, it’s not going to be off the high street.”
The latest financial results from some of the biggest egaming operators including bet365, Paddy Power and Sky Bet have shown mobile as a significant revenue channel.