New study links high density gambling machine zones and poorer areas

Gambling machines in Britain tend to be clustered in poorer areas, according to research published today by Geofutures Ltd and NatCen.

The research found that areas with a higher density of gambling machines were more likely to be poorer, with lower than average economic activity and more people in lower status jobs.

It also revealed that although a high density of gambling machines tends to be found in lower income areas, the pattern is more complex;

• Such zones are not always in Britain's poorer areas - some are in relatively wealthier parts of the country, like Altrincham
• High density machine zones are typically not present in very central, urban areas, but tend to be around satellite areas and towns; Central London had no high density zones.
• The report also found clusters of gambling machines in coastal, suburban or satellite towns such as Lewisham in Greater London and in a notable number of new towns, including Crawley.
• The populations of higher-density zones also tend to have higher than average proportions of residents aged 16-34 and over 75.

This report is timely because, despite speculation about the perceived clustering of gambling venues, up until now, no baseline information was available detailing the distribution of gambling machines. This report therefore provides policy-makers and gambling regulators with much-needed empirical evidence about the density and physical location of machines and the socio-economic characteristics of areas where they are located.

The work was commissioned by The Responsible Gambling Fund as a foundation for further research. However, the authors note that its findings should be interpreted with some care because of the current lack of a central database which records gambling machines numbers by venue.

Responsible Gambling Fund Chief Executive, Carol Stone, says:

"This research provides the first solid evidence in Great Britain about where gambling machines are most densely located along with the social and economic characteristics of those areas.  It provides a useful basis to inform debate and develop policy around gambling machines and access to them.  In the long run we expect it to lead to further research and policy work that is aimed at protecting vulnerable people from gambling related harm"

Heather Wardle, Research Director at NatCen says:

"We hope the report helps to provide a foundation for further research into British gambling habits. Other potential areas of debate include the influence of gambling machine density on local economies and other leisure amenities - and on individuals' gambling choices."

Some example maps are shown at the end of this release. The full report is available to read here.