Odds Are: They Win

Gambling consists of a wide range of products and formats. Any level of exposure to gambling carries a risk of harm, but some products are more harmful than others. Using more risky or harmful products does not equate to higher potential reward for customers.

The statistics below represent the risks of experiencing harm as a result of gambling for people who participate in different activities.

Bingo

• In person = 1 in 20
• Online = 1 in 5

Casino games

• Table games (e.g. poker, blackjack, roulette) in person = 1 in 8
• Online (inc. poker, instant win and roulette) = 1 in 5

Instant win and electronic games

• Scratchcards = 1 in 26
• Fruit or slot machines = 1 in 8
• Electronic gaming machines (also known as fixed odds betting terminals) = 1 in 4

Sports betting

• Horse racing (in person, by phone or at event) = 1 in 15
• Dog racing (in person, by phone or at event) = 1 in 6
• Sports events (in person, by phone or at event) = 1 in 8
• Online betting with a bookmaker (all sports and events) = 1 in 11
• Online betting exchanges = 1 in 6

Other

• Private betting with friends and family = 1 in 11
• Betting on ‘other events’ (in person, by phone or at event) = 1 in 4

Gambling products are often designed to build habits with the purpose of keeping customers playing for longer and spending more money. The below features are common in gambling products which are most associated with harms:

• Fast speed and continuity of play, where gaps between bets, stakes or spins are short with repeated, impulsive activity encouraged.
• Micro- and in-play betting, for example betting on small elements of a game which have little bearing on the overall result (e.g. number of yellow cards) or placing more than one bet on the same outcome (e.g. repeating an accumulator when one ‘leg’ loses)
• Using lights, colours and sounds to distort reality and portray losses as ‘near misses’ or wins – many games deliberately look childlike to disguise that they are gambling
• Immersive features, such as not including a running tally of overall wins and losses or removing the ‘clock’ feature to check the time
• Limited interaction or connection with other people ‘in real life’ – although adverts often depict gambling as a social activity, online gambling rarely features this level of interaction

If an offer looks too good to be true, it usually is.

Free bets and spins are used to entice customers towards more profitable (and harmful) products and to keep customers playing for longer, with some offers only available following a loss. Free offers can create that ‘itch’ to return to the game, but this time with your own money.

Free spin offers are not usually as straightforward as they seem. The terms and conditions of offers usually require customers to spin multiple times before being able to withdraw any winnings. In some cases ‘winnings’ need to be recycled 20 to 30 times before any withdrawal can be made. 

Free bets are a useful tool to entice people to spend more money when gambling. Free bets can disguise losses as wins. For example, if you spend a £30 free bet and the overall winnings are £10, it appears you have won £10, but really you have lost £20 from the original stake (although this hasn’t cost to the customer).

There seem to be more and more adverts for gambling products these days, as well as marketing emails for people with a gambling account.

Over 1 in 2 people we surveyed say they see gambling adverts every day.

Some day-time television programmes have been sponsored by bingo companies, radio adverts are played during the morning school-run and gambling logos can be shown every 10 seconds during televised football matches.

Adverts can be highly influential, particularly for children and young people who report viewing gambling as an ordinary part of watching sport and are more likely to gamble having seen gambling adverts.

Find out about Against The Odds, a Greater Manchester campaign to relegate gambling sponsorship to history. 

Gambling is often a hidden issue, but in Greater Manchester we’re lifting the lid on the harm it creates and talking more openly about gambling.

Talking about gambling may help you, or someone close to you, be open in sharing their experiences of gambling and the harm that can be caused.

Any level of exposure to gambling carries a risk of harm and anyone can be affected. There are steps that you can take to limit exposure to gambling products and marketing, such as setting spending limits across all platforms and blocking marketing material, but these will not reduce the risk altogether.  Find out more about gambling blocks and limits. 

If you think you, or someone you know, would benefit from professional advice and support, free and confidential help is available. Find out about gambling treatment and support in Greater Manchester.