UK hooked on internet gambling

The latest paper from UK Gambling Commission has shed light on the extent of the nation’s gambling habit. It found that eight percent of the country's adults have dabbled in at least one form of remote gambling in the previous month.

According to the ‘Survey Data on Remote Gambling Participation’, the National Lottery was the most popular form of remote gambling, with over five percent of respondents admitting to having gambled remotely on the Lottery in the last month.

Online poker came in as the second most popular choice at two percent, with betting third at just under two percent.

Remote gambling using a computer, laptop or handheld device was the most popular option at five percent, closely followed by gambling via mobile phone and interactive/digital TV. The survey also discovered that people in the 18 to 34 age group were the most likely to gamble.

Commenting the survey, Gambling Commission chairman Peter Dean said, “This new series is an important part of the Commission’s monitoring.

The figures reflect the uptake of new technology with people choosing to gamble via the internet as well as through mobile phones and interactive television.”