Facts and Figures

• There are around 300,000 adult problem gamblers in Britain.

• 76% of men and 68% of women gambled in the past year.

• 75% of teenagers gamble.

• Gambling activities are available for all age groups.

• Popular gambling activities in our society are:

National Lottery and scratchcards, football pools, fruit/slot machines, bingo, betting on horse/dog racing, gambling in casinos, betting on sports events, private card games, raffles. Increasingly, opportunities to gamble are becoming available through new technology, e.g Internet, WAP phones, Interactive Television.

• Gambling turnover is £42 billion per year - which equals £115 million pounds a day

• £1.5 billion goes to the government in taxes.

• An estimated £9 billion is staked per year on fruit/slot machines.

• Around £6 billion is gambled on horse racing.

• £30 billion has been gambled on the National Lottery since its’ launch* Young people and gambling

A survey of 12-15 year olds conducted by Sue Fisher (published 1998) found:

• 75% had played fruit/slot machines

• 47% had played National Lottery scratchcards

• 40% had played the National Lottery draw

• 7% had been illegally sold tickets

• 5% showed signs of gambling addiction