Surprising data from the UK’s Gambling Commission shows that the internet and other new forms of gambling have not led to an increase in gambling since 1999. In fact, due to a drop in the National Lottery sales, the numbers of people gambling fell from 72% in 1999 to 68%. The Gambling Prevalence Study questioned 9,003 people between September 2006 and March 2007 about 17 types of gambling – from scratch cards to casinos. It looked at attitudes, the popularity of different types of gambling and the prevalence of problem gambling and followed a similar study in 1999.
Although over 99% of adults who gamble do so harmlessly, there are still 250,000 “problem gamblers” in UK. Problem gambling destroys individuals and families. It is a psychological disease which is very hard to tackle and requires enhancing an individuals emotional intelligence.
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