A new Dutch study has warned the growing normalisation of betting risks driving higher participation and masking problem gambling, as nearly a quarter of the adults surveyed reported seeing gambling as a normal part of their social environment.
The research published this week by KSA for OpenOverGokken, a new Dutch public information and support platform about gambling, flagged several concerns. Findings were based on the responses of 1,000 Dutch people.
The standout finding was that 24% of consumers indicated people in their social circle considered gambling to be normal behaviour. The regulator flagged this as a concern, as the “romanticisation” of gambling was problematic. This figure was higher for men (32%) than women (16%), with KSA saying normalisation among friends and family could push people to gamble more.
Other findings included 43% of people saying they would be less likely to gamble if no one around them did. Some 22% of respondents said they had people in their social circle who gambled regularly.
On top of this, the study found that when people talked about gambling, they primarily discussed success and winnings. And around one in five respondents reported regularly hearing gambling was a convenient way to make money quickly.
Concerns remain over gambling harm
Elsewhere, 75% of respondents said they saw gambling problems as the result of making bad decisions.
Also on gambling-related harm, 11% of respondents understood gambling was not without consequences, such as having a direct impact on work, studies, relationships or sleep. That said, 76% said it is not always possible to identify someone dealing with gambling harm.
On top of this, KSA flagged how talking about gambling problems was still seen as taboo in the Netherlands. Some 29% of consumers said they would not seek help if they were addicted to gambling, and 34% would find it difficult to confront someone about their gambling behaviour.
OpenOverGokken seeks to address problem gambling taboo
Reflecting on the study, KSA Chairman Michel Groothuizen said the regulator recognised the continuing need to address gambling harm. This, he added, was part of the reason behind the launch of the new OpenOverGokken platform.
Introduced in October last year, OpenOverGokken was billed as the successor to the Loket Kansspel website, featuring information, advice, practical guidance and help on gambling and gambling-related harms.
“Gambling problems rarely develop overnight and often remain unnoticed for a long time,” Groothuizen said. “This is partly because gambling is often seen as normal behaviour in the community. This can make it difficult to recognise when gambling becomes problematic, let alone to discuss it.
“Previous research also showed there is still a persistent taboo surrounding talking about gambling and gambling problems. As a result, people who experience gambling problems themselves often hesitate to ask for help.
“The OpenOverGokken.nl platform offers independent information and helps people find appropriate support. As a regulator, we believe it’s our social responsibility to ensure that reliable information and support are accessible to everyone, and that no one has to face it alone,” he concluded.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/sustainable-gambling/responsible-gambling/dutch-regulator-flags-normalisation-gambling/
