How does the rising cost of living affect gambling?

Rising prices and costs affect many areas of life, but what about betting and online casinos? A recent study showed that for most players, their habits remained unchanged, but there is a small group for whom the situation turned out to be more difficult.

🔎 Key findings

📌 Most of the players haven ‘t changed their habits.

Despite the price increase, the vast majority of players continue to place bets and play at the casino in the same way as before. Those who made the changes were more likely to reduce gambling expenses than increase them.

📌 Three groups of players.

The researchers identified three main categories that react differently to the changing economic situation.:

• 1️⃣ Middle class — feels the price increase, but so far without serious consequences.
• 2️⃣ Low-income people are the most vulnerable group, for whom the financial burden is significant.
• 3️⃣ Well-off gamblers have become more attentive to spending, but their gambling activity has hardly changed.

📌 Who started playing more?

There are few such people, but they have common features:

• ✔️ Working age
• ✔️ High income level
• ✔️ The presence of mental health problems

This fact is of interest: those who have money can afford to spend more, but they may also have increased risks associated with gambling.

📌 Gambling as a way of earning money?

A small part of the players admitted that they use gambling to replenish their budget. Most often it is:

• 📍 People with an income of at least £55,000 per year
• 📍Parents of minor children
• 📍 Mortgage holders or tenants
• 📍 People with higher education
• 📍Those who live in a family of three or more people
• 📍Those who are not in a relationship
• 📍 Representatives of ethnic minorities

Economic instability can lead to the fact that some people begin to perceive gambling as a way to solve financial problems, which increases their risks.

📌 What does this mean?

In general, despite the price increase, most players have not changed their habits. However, among those who have started to gamble more, there are people with increased vulnerability, for whom gambling can be a way of escaping reality or an attempt to make up for financial losses.