Concerns National Lottery Scratch Cards Increase Problem Gambling

British MPs and campaigners are calling for the country’s National Lottery to be overhauled amid rising concerns that its scratch cards and only games are causing an increase in problem gambling.

They have also raised concerns that the amount of money from National Lottery revenues being donated to good causes is in decline. The latest concerns come in the middle of the competition to operate the National Lottery from 2024, with the winner of the license due to be announced within the next couple of months.

Speaking recently, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Vice-Chair of the ​​All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm, said, “There should be a fixed percentage on the amount that goes to good causes. The operator is beginning to look like any other gambling company.”

It was reported by the Guardian that scratch cards sold in shops and instant games online now make up 44% of all lottery revenues. However, just 9% of income from scratch cards and 12% from instant win games goes to good causes, compared to 31% of the income from draw-based games.

There are also concerns that scratch cards and online instant win games are more likely to be linked to problem gambling than the traditional weekly lottery draw.

RELATED TOPICS: Responsible Gambling