284,000 Britons are gambling addicts - 'and it'll get worse'

The largest-ever study of gambling patterns in the UK puts the number of those hooked at up to 284,000.

There are particularly acute problems among punters who bet on newer and fast-growing forms of gambling such as online casinos and spread betting.

Leading academics who wrote the report for the Gambling Commission watchdog warned that the figures are 'conservative', and predicted dramatic increases in both gambling and addiction levels.

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The Gambling Prevalence Survey is intended to provide a 'baseline' to measure the impact of the liberalisation and regulation in the Government's new Gambling Act.

This paves the way for a new generation of giant casinos and allows gambling advertisements on television and radio for the first time.

Researchers found that two-thirds of Britons - around 32 million adults - had gambled within the past year.

The figure was down from 33million in 1999 due to a decline in the popularity of the National Lottery, the report says.

The lottery draws remain the UK's most popular flutter, played by 57 per cent of the population, followed by scratchcards on 20 per cent, horse racing on 17 per cent and slot machines, 14 per cent.

Six per cent of the population - around 3.6million - gambled on the Internet last year, either placing bets online or visiting casino websites.

Among adults who had gambled within the past year, the proportion developing serious problems was just under 1 per cent - or up to 284,000 - slightly higher than the UK Drug Policy Commission's estimate of 280,000 heroin addicts.

Some groups were found to be far more vulnerable to addiction, including those who smoke and drink heavily, those who start gambling before their mid-teens and those who bet on newer forms of gambling.

Among punters taking part in 'spread betting' - where winnings and losses on sports events are effectively unlimited - almost 15 per cent have serious problems.

High addiction rates - 11.2 per cent - were also found among users of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals gaming machines.

One in ten punters using Internet betting exchanges, where sports fans bet against each other, were also classed as addicted, along with 7.4 per cent of punters using online casinos.

The authors of the report - based on a survey of 10,000 households - admitted surprise that addiction rates were similar to those found in 1999, but predicted dramatic increases as the impact of advertising and the easier availability of gambling is felt.

Mark Griffiths, Professor of Gambling Studies at Nottingham Trent University, said:

"Problems are associated with the new forms of gambling, and those forms are expected to grow. It's not just the Internet. We will see more gambling through mobile phones and interactive television."

Professor Jim Orford, of the University of Birmingham, said there is 'enormous scope' for increase in gambling, particularly online betting, leading to higher addiction rates.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "While the report shows that problem gambling still affects only a small minority, it does remain a serious issue and has to be addressed."