AQW 19986/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 07/06/2021
Answered On Date: 16/06/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities (i) for an estimate of the number of problem gamblers in Northern Ireland; and (ii) for her assessment of the impact of betting company advertising in sport on problem gambling.

Answer:

The most recent gambling prevalence survey carried out by my Department in 2016 and published in 2017 estimated the rate of problem gambling here at 2.3% of the population of people aged 16 and over.

The 2016 survey also included information on the top three most common gambling advertisements seen by respondents over a one month period. Sponsorship advertising, as distinct from sports advertising, was identified as one of the three most common forms of advertising seen at around 36%. Other common forms comprised television (80%) and on-line (47%).

Further information on the survey report can be accessed at the link below:-

2016-ni-gambling-prevalence-survey-main-report.pdf (qub.ac.uk)

I have not carried out any assessment as yet of the impact of betting company advertising in sport on problem gambling. This is an issue that I want to consider within the next phase of my gambling reforms.