4.6 million gambling addicts and "risky gamblers"
According to experts, 4.6 million adults in Germany are addicted to gambling or are showing the first symptoms of it. This is according to the "Gambling Atlas 2023" presented by Federal Drug Commissioner Burkhard Blienert (SPD). According to the report, around 1.3 million people suffer from a gambling disorder, while a further 3.3 million people exhibit risky gambling behavior with the first signs of addiction - such as withdrawal-like symptoms when not gambling or returning to gambling the next day to make up for losses.
The Gambling Atlas, published by the Institute for Interdisciplinary Addiction and Drug Research in Hamburg, the German Center for Addiction Issues in Hamm and the Gambling Research Department at the University of Bremen, provides a basic overview of gambling in Germany. It summarizes existing data, provides information on legal regulations, turnover in the industry and topics such as addiction and prevention. The data on gambling addiction is based on a survey from 2021.
The so-called gross gaming revenue of the gambling industry - i.e. the revenue received after deducting the winnings paid out - amounted to 13.4 billion euros last year. The providers' tills still ring the most in the area of gaming machines (4.8 billion), followed by lottery (4.1). There has been strong growth in sports betting since its legalization in autumn 2020 (1.4 billion). According to the paper, the state collected 5.2 billion euros in taxes from legal gambling.
The "Gambling Atlas 2023" highlights the impact of digital platforms on gambling, stating that 94% of risky gamblers in Germany engage in online activities, such as Games of chance on the Internet. Consequently, the increased accessibility of such platforms has fueled the growth of gambling atlas, attracting a broader audience and potentially contributing to the escalation of gambling-related issues.
Source: www.dpa.com
