Seven in 10 British consumers say compulsory health warnings on betting products would fail to address issues related to problem gambling, according to a new survey by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC).
Meanwhile almost half of the people participated in the survey think that banning popular promotions like “free bets” wouldn’t help tackle problem gambling rates either.
Both measures have been touted by anti-gambling pressure groups as the right tools to prevent problem gambling, despite just 0.3 percent of the adult population struggling with their betting, down from 0.4 percent the year previous.
Instead, just three percent of the public think it would be “very effective” enforcing compulsory health warnings on betting products and just eight per cent think banning free bets would be “very effective at preventing problem gambling.”
The survey, conducted by YouGov for the Betting and Gaming Council, comes as Government prepares to finalise new regulations for the betting and gaming industry.
Around 22.5million adults buy a lottery ticket, play bingo, place a bet in a casino, have a wager on sports or play online games.
BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher said: “Problem gambling rates in the UK are low and have fallen, but still the anti-gambling lobby – prohibitionists who just want to ban things – are pushing for draconian measures which will only stigmatise those who enjoy a harmless flutter.
“Measures like these, however well meaning, will only serve to drive punters from the regulated sector to the unsafe, unregulated gambling black market where the numbers betting have doubled in recent years and the amount staked is in the billions.
“Anti-gambling prohibitionists are determined to treat betting like tobacco and to treat punters like smokers – but these two things are worlds apart and should be regulated entirely differently.”
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