The number of adults who had participated in at least one form of remote gambling has increased to 11.8 per cent, according to figures released by the UK Gambling Commission.
The latest UK gambling prevalence study, conducted by independent specialist ICM Research, found that over the year to June 2011, 11.8 per cent of the 4,000 adults surveyed said they had participated in at least one form of remote gambling in the previous four weeks, almost half of whom had participated only in National Lottery products.
The figure compares with 11.1 per cent for 2010, 10.5 per cent for 2009, 9.7 per cent for 2008, 8.8 per cent for 2007 and 7.2 per cent for 2006.
The growth in participation is explained largely by increased online participation in the National Lottery. If those only playing National
Lottery products remotely are excluded, only 5.9 per cent of respondents had participated in remote gambling in the year to June 2011, compared with the figure of 5.7 per cent in 2010; 5.7 per cent in 2009; 5.6 per cent in 2008; 5.2 per cent in 2007 and 5.1 per cent in 2006.
Those participating in remote gambling were more likely to be male aged 18-44. Remote gambling via a computer, laptop or handheld device was most popular (10.5 per cent) followed by mobile phone (3.2 per cent) and interactive/digital TV (1.4 per cent).
The study also found an improvement in casino and land-based betting.
