Women, Children Likely to Exploit Internet Gambling

Internet gambling is set to become a new online trend in the UK, and a study by MORI and The Net magazine found that women and children are likely to exploit it.

The survey collected responses from 2,100 people across Britain, and found that more than half of the respondents think gambling is generally addictive. Fifty-six percent think gambling is a waste of money, and 87 percent thought gambling on the Internet was regulated.

While 64 percent of those surveyed felt gambling was either addictive, unhealthy, or dangerous, only 9 percent thought the Internet was a more dangerous place to bet. Many respondents thought the Internet was much safer, with 22 percent of women saying they felt the Internet provided a safer, fun, anonymous way to gamble.

Twenty-four percent of women feel more positive about gambling on the Internet than in a bookmakers and 12 percent of teenage girls said they felt the same.

One in five respondents to the survey feel that Internet gambling will prove more attractive to children and teenagers. According to the study, 33 percent of teenagers in the UK have Internet access.

“The increase in the number of consumers online, and the low start up costs of setting up a Web site, mean that the number of Internet gambling sites will increase rapidly, many by unscrupulous traders,” said Dr. Mark Griffiths, Professor of Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. “Gambling online is tempting for users because of the accessibility and anonymity of the Internet. It could become a real social problem in the near future, unless guidelines are given to help people gamble online safely.”