WIREDGOV

The Gambling Commission has today published survey data on gambling participation and public perceptions of gambling. The findings are based on questions in omnibus* surveys conducted by ICM Research.

The Commission has collected and published information on remote gambling participation for some time. In 2008 a new set of questions covering participation in all types of gambling activity was added. Both these data sets complement the British Gambling Prevalence Survey by providing more regular information on gambling participation among the general population.

Over the year to December 2009, 55.2% of the adults surveyed said they had gambled in the past four weeks. Over the same period 10.5% of respondents reported that they had participated in at least one form of remote gambling.

As far as public perceptions on gambling are concerned, this is the first time such data has been published by the Commission. The questions measure how far people in this country think, firstly gambling is fair and can be trusted, and secondly gambling is associated with criminal activity. Figures covering last year show that 49.6% of the adults surveyed agreed that gambling in this country is conducted fairly and can be trusted. This percentage was considerably higher among those who gamble. Less than half of all respondents (41.3%) agreed that gambling was associated with criminal activity.

You can see the data on the Omnibus survey page of the Commission website.

Notes to editors

The Gambling Commission

1. 1. The Gambling Commission (the Commission) regulates gambling in the public interest. It does so by keeping crime out of gambling, by ensuring that gambling is conducted fairly and openly, and by protecting children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling. The Commission also provides independent advice to government on gambling in Britain.
2. 2. The Commission is responsible for licensing and regulating all gambling in Great Britain other than the National Lottery and spread betting, which are the responsibility of the National Lottery Commission and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) respectively.
3. 3. *An omnibus survey is a syndicated multi client survey which runs regularly among representative samples. Clients share the setup costs of the survey and in return can achieve large sample sizes at minimal cost.
4. 4. In 2009 the Commission had three sets of questions in omnibus surveys:
   • participation in all gambling activities (sample size, n  = 7,029)
   • participation in remote gambling (n = 8,053)
   • public perceptions towards gambling (n = 4,047).
   5. Survey data on participation in all gambling activities will be published quarterly. Data on public perceptions of gambling will be published annually.   

Further information

1. Further information is available from the Commission's website at:  www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk.
2. You can also call John Travers on (0121) 230 6700, (07852) 124624 or email him via j.travers@gamblingcommission.gov.uk