No Evidence That Online Gambling Creates More Problem Gamblers

from the finally,-we-can't-blame-the-interent-on-something dept

While the US continues its attempts to wipe out all forms of online gambling (other than those forms of gambling that politicians partake in, such as horse racing and lotteries), a new study is suggesting that, contrary to politician grandstanding, online gambling does not lead to more problem gamblers. The study takes place in the UK, where they measured the different types of gambling that people engage in and determined the number of problem gamblers out there. What they found is that, even though it's a lot easier to gamble these days, the number of problem gamblers seems to have remained mostly constant (representing less than 1% of all gamblers). This shouldn't really be all that surprising. Problem gamblers are problem gamblers whether or not they have internet access to gambling sites. Either way, this should raise some questions about the idea that preventing online gambling somehow protects gambling addicts.
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Filed Under: online gambling


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  • icon
    Killer_Tofu (profile), 20 Sep 2007 @ 5:42am

    Gotta Ask

    What happened to all of the other TechDirt writer's Mike?
    I thought there were about 4 or 5 of you?
    Looking at all of the articles for today, they are pretty much all you and one from a TIC expert.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    RandomThoughts, 20 Sep 2007 @ 5:42am

    Not that I agree with the ban, but if you open up more outlets for gambling (Internet) the percentage of problem gamblers might not go up but the real number of problem gamblers will increase, because the amount of gamblers will go up.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Haywood, 20 Sep 2007 @ 5:57am

    Decay of modern Society

    I'm not much on big brother government, but if there is one place it should step in; it would be gambling. I don't care if it is casino, riverboat, or on line.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Pat, 20 Sep 2007 @ 6:23am

    on-line gambling does not promote problems

    ...yeah, and if you buy into that, I've got a great deal on a honest to gosh, authentic Houdini autograph I can part with for a price.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Luke Smith, 20 Sep 2007 @ 6:30am

    A world with no bad things

    So what happens when all vices are taken away to protect the children? Do we all become little angels? I predict social unrest.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Overcast, 20 Sep 2007 @ 6:36am

    Doesn't matter...

    If gambling - online or not, 'creates more problem gamblers' then the lottery is as much of a problem as anything.

    It's one way or the other, I really tire of the Government's double standards. I refuse to play lottery at all because of that. Well - that and I think for the most part it's a waste of money. I'd really rather just play Roulette, lol

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    RandomThoughts, 20 Sep 2007 @ 6:45am

    Protect the children? The lottery supposidly does that as a large portion of their profit goes to funding schools.

    There are a lot of things the govt. shouldn't be involved in, I believe gambling is one of them.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    TheDock22, 20 Sep 2007 @ 7:09am

    Government...

    I think the government needs to quite dictating morals to our society and start cashing in on people's little vices. If someone wants to gamble their life away, let them. If it is online, tax the heck out of people. If it is in a casino, still tax them but not as much.

    That will curb the number of online gamblers and I bet the government would make tons of money to use for schools and roads (which have been ignored for far too long now).

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Wolfger, 20 Sep 2007 @ 7:42am

      Re: Government...

      I think the government's main issue with online gambling is that they can't tax it as easily.

      Well, that, and the casino lobbying dollars that pay for anti-online-gambling legislation.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    GoblinJuice, 20 Sep 2007 @ 7:37am

    Even if online gambling "created" more "problem" gamblers, that wouldn't be a justification to ban or restrict it.

    If Johnny Jackass wants to blow his paycheck playing blackjack online, that's his choice.

    And, no, I don't gamble. It's for suuuckers! =P

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jason, 20 Sep 2007 @ 7:53am

    Gmabling

    I bet you I could find evidence!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    norman619, 20 Sep 2007 @ 9:04am

    The Nanny State

    When will we let people be resp for their own actions? It's rediculous that the gov tries to protect people from their own weaknesses at our expence. Gambling isn't the problem. The problem is the people who are too weak to control themselves. If they gamble away their life savings that is their problem. Maybe that is what they need to happen before tehy wake up.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      TheDock22, 20 Sep 2007 @ 9:11am

      Re: The Nanny State

      It's rediculous that the gov tries to protect people from their own weaknesses at our expence.

      I wonder what costs us more...banning internet gambling or supporting the losers who gamble so much they have to go on welfare...maybe their is some sense to the government's madness.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    William, 20 Sep 2007 @ 9:17am

    This just in

    There is also no proof that smoking causes cancer. There is no proof of global warming. It is next to impossible to prove anything useful using statistics. It could all just be one big coincidence. Anyway gambling is bad it destroys people lives and I don't think it's a bad think that you have to go to Vegas to do it.

    If you play the lottery you are throwing away 70 cants on the dollar. Odds of winning are much much better in a casino leave it to private industry to do things better than the government.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Robert, 20 Sep 2007 @ 9:32am

    Something similar to this happened many years ago.

    Either way, this should raise some questions about the idea that preventing online gambling somehow protects gambling addicts.


    I remember once that the government decided to outlaw alcohol in the United States, to save the drunks from themselves... and we all should know how that turned out.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jack, 20 Sep 2007 @ 10:06am

    blah

    My take - online gambling is actually a safer way to gamble in the grand scheme of things.

    I know, I know, I'm crazy...but here's why.

    You can't bet online with money that is not in your account. It's that simple. You don't have to worry about Guido showing up at your door with a baseball bat because you called up your bookie and made a "sure-winner" bet while drinking with your buddies at the bar the night before.

    I'm tired of the angle that this stuff is banned for our own good. (so betting on horses is any different??) It's a money thing, pure and simple.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jasmine, 20 Sep 2007 @ 10:40am

    Hold 'em fold 'em

    I'd bet five dollars that the numbers cited in the study are too low.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Overcast, 20 Sep 2007 @ 1:48pm

    I see your five and raise you ten :P

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Pointer., 24 Sep 2007 @ 6:00pm

    And you've got to love how betting on horse racing and dog racing is given nice little exemptions under the law.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    jimmy dicks, 26 Sep 2007 @ 6:33am

    nothing..jus my opinion!!!

    this is a very gay site..i loves my gambling

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jenny Wicker, 6 Jan 2010 @ 7:43pm

    I agree with Jack in here. It's really safer! I mean, you can truly hide your identity (except your IP though) in most of the online casino sites. and I believe that gambling problem is the result of the wrong mindset of a player. Gambling is harmless for good time sake! I've never ever been in any gambling problem of any sort in my 21 nova online gambling life! In times like this we need more open minds to understand most of us rather than not caring at all.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    brian, 10 Mar 2013 @ 7:18am

    As we read here and almost everyone know that gambling is prohibited in United States, however, there are some sites which allow you to gamble online via sports betting. Must visit this link to know more..
    http://www.footballpredictionshq.com/betting/good-sports-betting-advice-can-be-a-winning-strategy/

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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