Study Highlights Exponential Growth of Problem Gambling in Germany

A few years ago, the global COVID pandemic temporarily closed the doors of casinos, pushing many gamblers to the online sector. However, the boom of iGaming activities did not go away with the pandemic, with many gamblers retaining their online habits rather than returning to brick-and-mortar venues. Certainly, those who enjoy gambling in person have made their way through retail outlets, but others keep wagering online as it is more convenient and easier to access.

Germany is one of the markets across Europe where the pandemic pushed many gamblers online and according to data from new controversial research, this resulted in an uptick in gambling addictions. The country’s Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) released details regarding a new study into problem gambling, uncovering a worrying trend about a tripling of the number of people addicted to gambling.

In 2019, the number of people identified as addicted to gambling in Germany was approximately 400,000. Now, the new study estimates that an increase of more than three times is observed, with the number of gambling addicts hitting 1.3 million. Such people not only engage in online gambling but participate in sports betting and retail casino gambling, the study from BMG reveals.

Moreover, the newly released research warns about a significant increase in the number of at-risk gamblers or people displaying “problematic gambling behavior.” For 2019, an estimated 0.7% of the population displayed problematic gambling behavior, a figure that skyrocketed according to the new research. Per the data from BMG’s research, an estimated 8% of the population between the ages of 18 and 70 displayed problematic gambling behavior.

New Research Result Isn’t Directly Comparable to Old Probes

While the discoveries of the new study sound concerning, the picture may not be that grim. This is because the methods used for the collection of the new data are controversial. Moreover, a direct comparison between the latest data and figures from 2019 cannot be made considering the different methodologies for data collection along with analysis and categorization.

Recently, the DSWV urged lawmakers in the country to implement changes that help in the fight against illegal gambling. The announcement came amid a worrying trend of declining tax revenue and channelization of users to the black market. The DSWV warned that $8.3 billion in wagers were reported in Germany for last year, a result that marked a 5.4% decrease year-over-year. Besides this decline, DSWV together with DOCV previously revealed that nearly half of the online gambling activities in the country take place via unlicensed gambling operators.