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UK interest in online casinos at 'all-time high' in lockdown
May 20, 2020
Search interest in online casinos has hit an all-time high in the UK since lockdown began, data shows.
Google Trends shows gambling has moved online amid the closure of physical gambling venues and cancellation of sports events .
Problem gamblers told the BBC lockdown measures were a "recipe for disaster".
Watchdog the Gambling Commission said there had been a rise in online gambling, but there was no evidence yet of a rise in problem gambling.
How is gambling changing?
Despite an overall drop in gambling , the commission said across the industry there had been an increase in some customers playing online slots, poker, casino gaming and virtual sports.
Engaged gamblers are also spending more time or money during lockdown, data shows .
Anna Hemmings, chief executive of GamCare, a UK charity to help with problem gambling, said there was "a concerning context for people at risk" .
She said "contributing factors [to gambling problems], such as financial distress, isolation and boredom" were increasing with Covid-19.
The watchdog has given new guidelines to gambling companies to help their customers.
"We are monitoring online operators closely and if we see irresponsible behaviour we will step in immediately, suspending licences if we need to," commission chief executive Neil McArthur said.
The problem gamblers
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