Gambling Update - Health Survey for England 2012

Further to our earlier news article (click here) following the release by the Gambling Commission of the 'Health Survey for England (2012)' we would highlight the following points from the report which may be of interest:

• The sample size of 8,291 can be compared to the 2010 Prevalence Study sample size of c. 6,500.
• 65% of adults in England (68% of men and 61% of women) had participated in gambling activity in the past year. Excluding the National Lottery draw (NLD) only players, 43% had gambled in the past year.
• Not surprisingly the most popular forms of gambling were the purchase of tickets for the National Lottery (men 56%, women 49%); purchase of scratch cards (19% and 20% respectively), participation in other lotteries (14% for both men and women) and betting on horse racing (12% and 8% respectively).
• On average, men took part in 1.7 different forms of gambling in the last year whereas women took part in fewer activities, 1.2.
• Among both men and women, the average number of gambling activities varied by age and tended to be higher among younger than older age groups.
• Overall, 4% of men and 1% of women had engaged in seven or more different gambling activities in the last year.
• Among men, problem gambling prevalence varied with age, being typically higher among younger age groups and decreasing as age increased.
• Excluding NLD, 7% of adults participated in on-line gambling.
• This year, overall problem gamblers on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) measure were 0.4% compared to 0.6% last year and 0.7% in 2010.
• This year, overall problem gamblers on the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV) measure were 0.5% compared to 0.7% last year and 0.9% in 2010.
• The numbers do not change when the Scottish results are included.

 As highlighted in our earlier news item, there will be the production of a headline report in spring 2014 combining results for England & Scotland. This will also be followed by more detailed analysis of the results, no doubt due to the fact that the raw data was only received by the Gambling Commission on 17 December 2013. There will also be a review of the methodology of the Health Survey and its possible impact on the outcomes.