UKGC Blasts Industry Over Gambling Statistics

This week, the UKGC's CEO Andrew Rhodes blasted the country's gambling industry for what he called the "misrepresentation of gambling statistics" and called for the practise to end.

The announcement came in the form of an open letter, wherein he claimed that the industry, including operators, trade bodies, sporting venues, media, and charities are taking advantage of gambling statistics to push their own agendas. He said this misrepresentation has grown recently and that many of the misrepresentations come from the rates of problem gamblers in the country. Rhodes said that the numbers are more complicated than the industry lets on, and that more care is necessary when using the information compiled.

In the paper, Rhodes, wrote: "Even with a relatively low proportion of people experiencing problem gambling we must remember that this can and does have catastrophic consequences and equates to hundreds of thousands of people directly affected and a greater number amongst friends, families and others. The debate around gambling is often a fierce one, but nobody is well-served by statistics being misused to further an argument.

"I therefore ask anyone commenting on this area to take a greater degree of care to ensure they are using evidence and statistics correctly, accurately and in the proper context and with any necessary caveats applied."