The UK Gambling Commission has released its latest study which was conducted by the independent specialist ICM Research. Contrary to recent reports suggesting mobile gaming is growing at significant rates the UK gambling prevalence study shows just a 0.07% increase in remote gambling which is nearly all down to buying national lottery tickets.

In relation to online gambling the study revealed that for the year ending June 2011, the average figures in September 2010, December 2010, March 2011 and June 2011, 11.8% of the 4,000 adults surveyed said they had participated in at least one form of remote gambling in the previous four weeks. The study showed that half of those questioned had taken part in at least one of the National Lottery products. In comparison to the 2011 figure of 11.8%:

• 2010 the number was 11.1%

• 2009 the number was 10.5%

• 2008 the number was 9.7%

• 2007 the number was 8.8%

• 2006 the number was 7.2%

The report also showed that the increase in remote gambling was largely due to the National Lottery and if this was excluded the growth in remote gambling was marginal.

Excluding the lottery in the year to June 2011 this would have been 5.9 percent. In comparison in:

• 2010 the number was 5.7%

• 2009 the number was 5.7%

• 2008 the number was 5.6%

• 2007 the number was 5.2%

• 2006 the number was 5.1%

The survey showed that those participating in remote gambling were more likely to be male than female, and were more likely to be aged 18-44.

The breakdown of remote gambling between different devices showed that the use of computers, laptops or handheld was most popular with 10.5 percent of those surveyed taking part. The number of those surveyed that used a mobile phone to take part was 3.2 percent and the number of those using their TV through interactive services was 1.4 percent.

In relation to general gambling the research showed that for the year to June 2011, the average figures in September 2010, December 2010, March 2011 and June 2011, 56.7% of the 4,000 adults surveyed had taken part in at least one form of land based gambling in the last 4 weeks.

In comparison in 2010 the figure was 55.5 percent and in 2009 it was 55.2 percent.

The number of participants taking part in land based gambling was

• National Lottery tickets – 46.3%

• Tickets for society and good causes – 11.6%

• National Lottery scratchcards – 10.7%

• Betting on horses – 4.6%

• Bingo – 3.4%

• Fruit machines and slots – 3.3%

Females were more likely to take part in gambling than males and those over 45 were more likely to take part.