Transcript Document

Campaign for Fairer Gambling
FOBT Research Report
September 2014
London | San Francisco | Los Angeles | New York | Singapore | Hong Kong
2cv.com
FOBT Research Report
Methodology and Sample

Face to face interviews were conducted near to betting shops within the London Borough of
Newham, Medway, Manchester, and Liverpool

Respondents were recruited at random upon exiting the betting shops across various
locations and asked about their typical engagement with betting shop services

Respondents were asked to participate in a 10 min survey containing questions on the
awareness, usage, and attitudes toward betting shop services, with a focus on Fixed Odds
Betting Terminals (FOBTs)

Fieldwork was conducted between 2nd and 17th August 2014

993 interviews were conducted in total (Newham 272, Liverpool 227, Medway 242,
Manchester 252)
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FOBT Research Report
Problem gambling definition
Throughout the report, any reference to ‘problem gambling’ is in relation to the
criteria defined by the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fifth Edition, Published 2013):
“A progressive disorder characterized by a continuous or periodic loss of control over
gambling; a preoccupation with gambling and with obtaining money with which to
gamble; irrational thinking; and a continuation of the behaviour despite adverse
consequences.”
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FOBT Research Report
Socio-Economic classification
National Readership Survey (NRS) demographic categories
2CV’s classification aligns with the NRS social grade definitions – these are widely used as a generic reference series for classifying
and describing social classes in the UK, especially for consumer targeting and consumer market research.
Social Grade
Social Status
Occupation
A
Upper Middle Class
Higher managerial, administrative or professional
B
Middle Class
Intermediate managerial, administrative or professional
C1
Lower Middle Class
Supervisory or clerical, junior managerial, administrative or
professional
C2
Skilled Working Class
Skilled manual workers
D
Working Class
Semi and unskilled manual workers
E
Lowest level of subsistence
State pensioners or widows (no other earner), casual or lowest
grade workers
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Key Findings
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FOBT Research Report
82% of all betting shop customers perceive FOBTs as an addictive activity.
This is higher still at 89% among those who play Roulette games on FOBTs
32% of Roulette players have borrowed money in order to play. A variety of
sources are used to obtain cash, commonly from peers
Abusive behaviour is prevalent; 72% of all betting shop customers have
experienced other customers acting violently toward FOBTs
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1.
“A continuation of the behaviour despite
adverse consequences”
FOBT Research Report
Regardless of engagement with FOBTs, there is a strong perception that
they are an addictive activity
% agree ‘FOBTs are addictive’
Top 2 Box on a 5 point scale - agree/strongly agree
All Betting Shop
Customers
82%
(n=993)
Non Roulette
Players
All Roulette
Players
78%
89%
(n=644)
(n=349)
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FOBT Research Report
Roulette players on FOBTs skew toward a younger audience of lower
socio-economic grade
Play Roulette
UK Nat Rep
18-24
17%
13%
25-34
33%
18%
35-54
35%
39%
55+
16%
30%
AB
5%
27%
C1
15%
28%
C2
24%
22%
DE
55%
24%
All Roulette Players (n=349)
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FOBT Research Report
Only 1 in every 10 players frequently ends a single roulette session with
more money than they started with
How often do you end up with more
money than you started with?
10%
Pretty much all the time
9%
3%
Often
7%
About half and half
28%
28%
Not often
Hardly ever
Never
25%
All Roulette Players (n=349)
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FOBT Research Report
A clear cycle of chasing losses means despite rarely making money in a
session, winnings are often reinvested
What do you do with your winnings?
Put ALL of it back into gambling machines
18%
52%
34%
Put SOME of it back into gambling machines
Use it for other betting
Spend elsewhere/save it
14%
32%
All Roulette Players (n=349). 2% chose not to answer
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FOBT Research Report
Paired with frequent engagement, the potential for loss is high
How often do you play Roulette?
Less often
Once a month
19%
2-3 times a month
10%
13%
About once a week
12%
2 – 3 times per week
25%
Most Days
13%
Everyday
8%
58% play weekly
All Roulette Players (n=349)
Those using most frequently are at the biggest risk of financial harm
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FOBT Research Report
Those playing daily/almost daily account for 63% of annual FOBT
session activity within our sample
% of total Roulette activity accounted
for by players (by frequency of play)
1%
Less often
1%
Once a
month
3%
2-3 times a
month
29%
6%
Once a
week
2-3 times a
week
Most days
Every day
% of total Roulette session activity
accounted for
34%
26%
Frequency of Roulette play
All Roulette Players (n=349). NB. Analysis assumes players engage in only one session each time they play, but it is likely to be more than one
Reducing frequency of play is essential for limiting the harmful effects of Roulette machines
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FOBT Research Report
In addition, these players account for almost 90% of the cash inserted
per session
45%
43%
9%
0%
Less often
0%
1%
Once a month 2-3 times a
month
2%
Once a week
2-3 times a
week
Most days
Frequency of Roulette play
Every day
% of total Roulette cash insertion per
session accounted for
% of total Roulette cash insertion accounted
for by players (by frequency of play)
All Roulette Players (n=349). NB. Analysis assumes players engage in only one session each time they play, but it is likely to be more than one
Capping maximum bet per spin should help protect these players
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FOBT Research Report
Summary
“A continuation of the behaviour despite adverse consequences”
•
82% of betting shop customers (both players and non-players) perceive FOBTs as
an addictive activity
•
Potential for loss is high; only 10% of players claim they frequently end a session
with more money than they started with, and at least a proportion of any
additional earnings are re-invested back into the machines
•
Despite this, Roulette play remains frequent - over half of users play at least
weekly making the potential for loss even greater
•
This is particularly the case for those using Roulette on FOBTs most frequently;
those playing weekly or more account for 63% of session activity and 90% of cash
inserted
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2.
“A preoccupation with gambling and with
obtaining money with which to gamble”
FOBT Research Report
A third of players have experienced a negative financial impact or spent
beyond their means
Playing Roulette has
impacted on
personal/family finances
36%
I have borrowed money to
play Roulette
32%
91% “Sometimes I spend more than I plan
to on Roulette machines”
Vs. 54%
95% “They are
addictive”
Vs. 86%
75% “Whatever I win I put back into the
gambling machines”
Vs. 31%
All Roulette Players (n=349) Vs. those who have not borrowed money
Those borrowing money acknowledge difficulty controlling their spending on Roulette machines
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FOBT Research Report
Those borrowing money to play Roulette turn to peers and personal
credit
Sources ever borrowed from
(All borrowed n=121)
Payday Loan /
Pawn Broker
45%
Personal Credit
68%
Family / Friends
79%
Avg. No. of borrowing sources
3
Borrowers use multiple sources but rely heavily on family and friends, credit cards, and overdrafts
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FOBT Research Report
The most financially impacted customers tend to be younger, of a lower
social grade, and playing Roulette most frequently
Impact on Finances
Borrowed Money
BASE
131
121
18-24
13%
16%
25-34
40%
42%
35-54
34%
31%
55+
13%
11%
AB
6%
6%
C1
23%
20%
C2
26%
26%
DE
45%
48%
Play Roulette at least weekly
70%
75%
There is high overlap between those experiencing financial difficulty and those borrowing money
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FOBT Research Report
Those borrowing money hold attitudes indicative of problem gambling
How much do you agree with the following statements?
(Top 2 Box of a 5 point scale – agree/strongly agree)
Borrowed Money
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
69%
79%
76%
70%
Not Borrowed Money
47%pts
44%pts
48%
26%
81%
88%
49%pts
46%
28%
85%
96%
65%
45%
52%
32%
The longer I I need to keep on I’m worried
When I win, I I have gambled I gamble more to If I lose, I’ll
I sometimes
play, the more I betting more about how much want to keep on until all of my
make money sometimes chase gamble for
I spend in
my losses
resent not
money per spin
gambling
money has gone
than for
longer than I had
winning
to get the same betting shops
entertainment
planned
type of
enjoyment
Borrowed money (n=121), Not Borrowed Money (n=228)
This particular audience should benefit from a reduction in maximum bet per spin
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FOBT Research Report
Higher cash insertion is also linked to stronger problem gambling traits
How much do you agree with the following statements?
(Top 2 Box of a 5 point scale – agree/strongly agree)
Under £20
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
71%
68%
64%
£20-£100
77%
Over £100
86%
79%
72%
47%
26%
31%
26%
16%
12%
I have borrowed
money to play
Roulette machines
Playing Roulette
machines has
impacted my
finances
39%
94%
89%
62%
58%
35%
87%
80%
44%
20%
I need to bet more I'm worried about
to get the same
how much I bet
excitement
I gamble to make
money more than
for entertainment
If I lose I chase my I gamble for longer FOBT are addictive
losses
than planned
Under £20 (n=129), £20-£100 (n=70), Over £100 (n=120)
This highlights a need to help players control the amount of cash they are inserting
Base: Play Roulette (349), Not Roulette (536)
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FOBT Research Report
Summary
“A preoccupation obtaining money with which to gamble”



One third of Roulette players have borrowed money in order to play
Peers are the main source relied upon to borrow, with personal credit options and pay
day loans / pawn brokers also used
Younger players (18-34), those in the lower social grades, and the most frequent
Roulette players are most likely to borrow money to play Roulette
“A preoccupation with gambling”


Those borrowing money and investing higher stakes are most likely to show a
preoccupation with gambling; over 80% have gambled for longer than planned, and
over 70% need to keep increasing stakes for the same enjoyment
These players should be protected by a reduction in maximum bet per spin
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FOBT Research Report
The high pressure betting shop environment holds ramifications for
both customers and staff
Which of the following have you experienced?
(All customers n=993)
Abuse
between
customers
36%
Abuse to
staff
Attacks on
FOBTs
56%
72%
Aggressiveness toward FOBTs is highly prevalent
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FOBT Research Report
Summary
FOBTs are perceived as an addictive activity by all betting shop customers, regardless of engagement with the
machines
The potential for loss is high, with only 1 in 10 players regularly ending a session with more cash than they started,
and frequently reinvesting any winnings back into the machines
Despite this, FOBT engagement is frequent with over half of players using the machines at least weekly
With higher frequency of play comes higher engagement and cash insertion; those playing weekly or more account
for 63% of annual session activity and 90% of cash inserted, highlighting evidence of problem gambling behaviour
FOBTs have a negative financial effect on players, with one third of Roulette players spending beyond their means
and borrowing money in order to play
Whilst borrowing from a multitude of sources, family and friends are relied upon heavily, indicating the wider social
impact of FOBT problem gambling
Those borrowing money and investing higher stakes exhibit stronger problem gambling traits and behaviours than
other FOBT players and betting shop customers. These players should benefit the most from a reduction in
maximum bet per spin
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