The normalisation of gambling behaviour leads to more people gambling

Seeing others gamble makes you want to gamble

Gambling is becoming increasingly normalised in our society. For example, a quarter of Dutch people (24 per cent) say that people in their social circle view gambling as normal behaviour. It is striking that men consider gambling to be more normal than women do. The figures are 32 per cent of men and 16 per cent of women. When people view gambling as normal, this leads to more people taking up gambling. Those who may not have their gambling behaviour under control find it more difficult to discuss the issue. This is according to research carried out by the Gaming Authority for OpenOverGokken amongst 1,000 Dutch people.
 

Gambling: something that is considered normal

The social environment plays a clear role in how the Dutch view gambling. For example, 43 per cent say they would be less likely to gamble if nobody around them did so. Nevertheless, 22 per cent of participants have people in their own social circle who gamble.

When people talk about gambling, the conversation tends to focus on success and winnings. For example, one in five Dutch people (18 per cent) say they regularly hear that gambling is a handy way to make money quickly. Glorifying gambling is a problem. Many people believe that anyone with gambling problems has only themselves to blame. For example, three-quarters of Dutch people (75 per cent) see gambling problems as the result of making the wrong decisions.

Problems often go unnoticed

For some Dutch people, gambling is not without consequences: 11 per cent say that gambling has had a direct impact on their work, studies, relationships or sleep. At the same time, gambling problems are not always recognised. For example, 76 per cent of Dutch people believe that you cannot tell if someone has a gambling addiction just by looking at them. This can contribute to problems remaining hidden for longer and mounting up. Furthermore, there is a taboo surrounding talking about gambling problems: nearly three in ten participants (29 per cent) say they would not dare to ask for help if they were addicted to gambling themselves. Just over a third of Dutch people (34 per cent) find it difficult to speak to someone about their gambling behaviour.

Michel Groothuizen, Chair of the Board at the Gaming Authority: “Gambling problems rarely arise overnight and often remain hidden for a long time. This is partly because gambling is often seen as normal behaviour in the community. As a result, it can be difficult to recognise when gambling is becoming problematic, let alone to broach the subject. As our previous research has also shown, there is a persistent taboo surrounding discussions about gambling and gambling problems. As a result, people who are experiencing gambling problems themselves often do not dare to ask for help. A first step could be to talk about it with someone you trust, such as a partner, family member or friend. For those who still feel that step is too big, it is also possible to first find out more online at your own pace. The OpenOverGokken.nl platform offers independent information and helps people find their way to appropriate support. As a regulatory body, we consider it our social responsibility to ensure that reliable information and help are accessible to everyone and that no one has to face this alone.”

Gambling is a form of entertainment that people can become absorbed in. The Gaming Authority therefore wants people to be well-informed and aware of the risks associated with gambling. To this end, people can turn to OpenOverGokken. OpenOverGokken is an initiative of the Gaming Authority.