Leading psychologists are warning that gambling via a smartphone could be more addictive than fixed odds betting machines (FOBTs).

The new study found that gamblers who use their phones to bet are willing to keep losing money long after they stop winning. In one cited case a person placed almost 180 losing bets in a row before stopping.

Professor Richard Tunney, who led the study, warned that smartphone gambling often falls ‘under the radar’ as people are conditioned to repeatedly check and use their phone, therefore mobile phone users tend to bet more often, even after repeated losses, throughout their day.

“We know people repeatedly pick up their phones, such as when they are waiting for a bus or for the kettle to boil. This could normalise someone picking up their phone to put on many bets a day. From a legislative point of view, there are pretty much no restrictions on smartphone gambling.” – Richard Tunney.

Lax regulation for smartphone gambling

The UK’s gambling laws have come under fire recently with many charities, including CARE, pushing for further regulation as the UK is relying on outdated laws and voluntary codes to regulate gambling.

“Our gambling laws were written before smartphones even existed, and at a time when internet gambling was only getting started. So, while government is able to regulate stakes on machines like FOBTs, there are no such provisions for online, even though the games are the same. Our laws need updating in response to how people gamble today.” - Matt Zarb-Cousin, a Spokesperson for Fairer Gambling.

The sheer accessibility of gambling on smartphones has become the main enemy for problem gamblers.” – Labour MP Carolyn Harris.

Gambling is becoming normalised for young people

Figures published by The Gambling Commission show that the number of child problem gamblers has quadrupled in just two years. The figures suggest that 450,000 children aged 11-16 bet on a regular basis and 55,000 children are classed as problem gamblers.

The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Rev Alan Smith who leads on the issue of gambling in the House of Lords for the Church of England said the findings were a "generational scandal".

New rules are coming into force that will tighten up rules around gambling advertising. From April 1 gambling companies will no longer be allowed to use celebrities, sports stars or cartoon characters to entice people to bet. However, the Advertising Standards Authority will not be able to issue fines to companies who flout these new regulations so it is questionable whether these new rules will be properly enforced. You can listen to us commenting on these new guidelines to UCB here.

With no action being taken on gambling companies side-stepping the ban on advertising to children by sponsoring football teams, it’s unlikely the new regulations will combat the rise in child problem gamblers in isolation.

CARE Spokesperson James Mildred said:

“The Government can no longer ignore that our gambling laws are not fit for purpose. The quadrupling of child problem gamblers in the UK in the last two years show this issue is only getting worse and preventative measures must be put in place to safeguard young people.”

Read more about our work on gambling here.