Around 40% of Online Bettors Move on to Other Games

A new study carried out in Ireland by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found that most people who open online betting accounts gradually move on to other games of chance. The research was commissioned by the Irish regulator GRAI. The report was published while GRAI was gradually introducing its licensing and regulatory powers.

According to the research, about 40% of people who open online accounts for horse racing or sports betting later move on to online casino games, slots and scratch cards. A representative sample of 1,000 people who gamble was examined. 77% of participants said they had gambled online in the past year, and 59% said they had gambled face to face. 44% use both channels.

Many players open a second account. Of those who bet online, 54% had opened a second account, and about 10% have four or more accounts. Players cited favourable odds, easy sign-up and promotional offers as their reasons for this choice. 26% of online players said they lost 'a lot' in their last session, compared with 17% for face-to-face gambling.

Marketing activity also stands out. One in seven participants said they started their last online session right after seeing an email, app notification or gambling advert. About one in five said they receive such notifications every day. One in five online sessions interrupted another activity. Work and family time were the most commonly affected areas.

A quarter of participants said they had tried or planned to cut down on gambling. One third of those trying to cut down said they were playing the same amount or more than a year earlier. Many participants said that opening an account or depositing money is easier than closing an account or withdrawing winnings. Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Minister Jim O'Callaghan presented this report, which is part of ESRI's research series on gambling in Ireland.