The previous year (2021) had seen rates sit at 0.3%; however, news that the level has dropped again means the UK’s problem gambling levels are below international standards, according to the research.
It is estimated that 22.5 million adults place bets every month in the UK, with gambling contributing £7.1bn ($8.6bn) to the economy, worth £4.2bn in tax and supporting over 100,000 jobs.
BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher said: “These newly released figures are further evidence of the positive progress we have made on safer gambling and underline our urgent calls for ministers to take a genuinely evidence-based approach to the upcoming White Paper.
“These figures showing that problem gambling has fallen once again will no doubt come as a profound disappointment to anti-gambling prohibitionists, who like to vastly overstate the issue.
“Their alarmist demands are not backed up by the evidence. We want big changes, but they must be focussed on this small minority who are vulnerable to harm – not the vast majority who bet safely and responsibly. We need a risk-based approach which helps the vulnerable, not ruins the experience for the responsible majority.”
The UK Government’s White Paper, which should supposedly have a significant impact on how the UK regulates gambling in the future, is expected to be published soon. But we are still waiting for that report – and have been for some time...