New Markets New Opportunities?
Online Gambling and Debt
Acquisition – the 24/7 opportunity
to do both
Andy Todd
Counselling Manager
RCA Trust
Paisley
The RCA Trust
Our service was established in 1978 as an
independent voluntary service
We aim to limit the damaging affects of
problem behaviours and addictions on the
individual, their families and the community.
The methods we use include one to one
counselling, education, advice, harm
prevention, information and rehabilitation
services.
All our services are confidential, with all our
staff trained to national quality assured
standards
Gambling in Scotland
Work in partnership with The Responsible
Gambling Fund, Gamcare, PFA Scotland,
Money Advice Services to help problem
gamblers and their families
Not only the individual affected but family,
friends, work colleagues, employers etc
The problems associated with problem
gambling are multi – faceted and complex.
Stopping or reducing the frequency of
gambling may resolve the core issue.
However, other concerns have to be
resolved to offer a truly holistic intervention
Gambling in the UK
How much is gambled in the UK
each week?
1 - £500 million
2 - £750 million
3 – Over £1 billion
Gambling in the UK
Over £1 billion is gambled in the
UK each week.
Estimates from a range of sources
suggest that £85 billion are
gambled in the UK on a yearly
basis. (Gambling Commission,
ONS).
From a Scottish perspective, what
percentage of people have
gambled in the last year?
1 - 68%
2 - 75%
3 - 79%
Definition of gambling
“Wagering money or something of
material value on an event with an
uncertain outcome with the primary
intent of winning additional money
and or material goods.”
Gambling and in the UK
The British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010
Results from the study indicated –
73% of the population had gambled in the last
year
Men were more likely to gamble than women
Problem gambling was estimated at 0.9%.
Therefore, 451,000 people in the UK could be
affected by problem gambling directly.
Gambling and the UK (cont)
X5 for other people affected then you have
over 2 million people
Young people under 24 are more likely to
gamble than any other group
The most popular activity is the National
Lottery followed by
Scratchcards, Horse Racing, Fruit Machines
and Private Betting
14% participated on online gambling.
Online Gambling in the UK
Google online gambling in the UK and you
will get 31,500,000 results.
Activities include
Casino play, Bingo, Sports Betting, Slot
machines, Betting Exchanges – Betfair,
Betdaq, World Bet Exchange.
Estimates for 2009 – 2010 conclude online
gambling is worth £200 billion per year.
It has been restricted and even banned by
some countries
Online gambling and the UK.
The prevalence survey indicated there was a
reported increase in the amount of gambling
online from 6% to 7% since the last survey
This increase was greater for females than
males.
It has been suggested that this is due to
targeted advertising at females, ease of
access
Greater accessibility and technological
advances through mobile technology
Online Gambling and Debt
Around 15% of the people we see each year
are affected by problem gambling online.
The debts reported vary from £800 of personal
debt to £125,000 debts across a ranges of
financial institutions.
Individuals who come to our service for help
and gamble problematically online, have the
greatest amount of debts accrued in the
shortest space of time
Debts include - Credit Cards, Bank Loans,
Payday Loans, Illegal Money Lenders,
Mortgage Arrears, Personal Debts.
Gambling and Debt
The Money Advice Trust and Gamcare
commissioned research into gambling and
debt in 2008/2009.
173 participants completed questionnaires
on gambling and debt problems
21 follow up interviews – problem
gamblers, concerned significant others
and credit industry.
Regional forums took place – debt
advisors, health care, counsellors
Gambling and Debt
Key findings included –
Debts of up to £60,000 is not uncommon
There is a lack of understanding of problem
gambling with money advice agencies and
the NHS
Awareness of potential help for problem
gamblers is equally low.
Greater education is needed to help
address these issues across a range of
services, particularly with young people
Gambling Risk and Harm Minimisation 3
The aims of the project
-To raise awareness with interested stakeholders
and partners of issues associated with gambling
-Provide information and appropriate training on
screening and support for problem gambling to
stakeholders and partners
-Develop appropriate care pathways so
individuals receive help and support from
associated agencies – Debt advice, GP’s,
Homeless Services
-Increased use of interventions, particularly
through the utilisation of brief interventions, to
reduce gambling at harmful levels.
Gambling Risk and Harm Minimisation 3
(cont)
The project covers 8 local authority areas in the
West Coast of Scotland
Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire
Inverclyde
Glasgow City
North Lanarkshire
North Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire
How we are going to deliver?
-We have established an experienced team
that will be able to deliver the aims of the
project
-Already we have been able to identify
several stakeholders and partners who are
willing to participate
-An additional target list of potential
stakeholders has also been identified.
-The Advisory Group that will oversee the
project has been established and meets on a
regular basis
-We will utilise existing networks as well as
developing new networks throughout the area
to promote the service, partners, media, radio
The importance of Money Advice and
Debt Advisors
We recognise that this is a natural pathway for
individuals presenting with gambling issues to
seek advice.
We have worked in partnership with money
advice agencies to resolve debt issues, through
voluntary payments, Trust Deeds etc.
Working in partnership provides a wider holistic
approach and should deal with problem
resolution more effectively.
Conclusion
Gambling is now more accessible than ever,
gambling is 24 hours, 7 days a week.
If you are gambling online, you do not hand
over real money.
We have seen a small rise in online gambling,
however, traditional forms of gambling still tend
to be most problematic.
Research indicates there is a lack of
knowledge about the help available
Help and Advice is available
[email protected]
RCA Trust – 0141 887 0880
Gamcare – 0845 6000 133
Gamblers Anonymous Scotland – 0370 050
8881