GambleAware’s Bet Regret campaign sees increase in players ‘tapping out’

The two-year campaign, which targeted a young male demographic (aged 16-44), raised significant awareness of issues related to problem gambling.

53% of the audience with higher risk profiles showed some intention to cut down their betting, while 17% of those surveyed were actively ‘tapping out’ of their betting apps before placing a wager they believed they might regret.

A statement from the Bet Regret report said: “In the absence of an ‘Are You Sure’ button on betting apps, there is a continued need to promote behavioural nudges of this kind.

“We encourage gambling operators and regulators to make their own interventions to help reduce the risks that can come from impulsive betting behaviours.”

Further statistics showed 76% of the audience believe they are aware of the risks of gambling more than they can afford, 70% said they are confident that they would know the early warning signs that someone might be betting too much, and 76% also attested that they know how to cut down if they want to.

The suspension of live sport caused by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic caused the campaign, intended to last two years, to be paused, before it was extended to April 2021.

The campaign has received some criticism, however, from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling-Related Harm (APPG). APPG chair Carolyn Harris said in a letter to GambleAware that customers who experience regret about their bets should be encouraged to stop betting completely rather than simply ‘tap out’. However, GambleAware said Harris had misconstrued the target audience of the campaign, which was frequent bettors rather than those facing gambling harm.