National Council on Problem Gambling Publishes NGAGE Research

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), the advocacy organization for people and their families who are affected by problem gambling and gambling addiction, has announced the publication of the results from their groundbreaking National Survey of Gambling Attitudes and Gambling Experiences (NGAGE).

This past November, thanks to the support of GVC Holdings, NCPG commissioned Ipsos, a global market research and consulting firm, to conduct a U.S. national consumer study to examine the experiences with various forms of gambling as well as attitudes about gambling among participants in the study. The survey included 3,000 participants from across the U.S. and the results provide an overview of both national and state-by-state gambling participation and problem gambling trends.

“NGAGE is a big initiative for NCPG and will provide important baseline data as gambling, especially sports betting, continues in the U.S. In analyzing the data, we hope to better understand problem gambling and people’s attitudes toward it. The data will be a critical tool for advocates, industry and legislators as they consider state-by-state sports betting initiatives, providing evidence to illuminate patterns of past behaviors as they consider possible future impacts,” said Keith Whyte, Executive Director of NCPG. “We also expect that the data will bolster our efforts to gain support for better access to treatment and services for those affected by problem gambling and gambling addiction.”

The study includes questions on gambling participation, emphasis on sports betting and fantasy sports betting, problematic behavior and positive play, as well as beliefs and opinions about problem gambling.

Initial findings show that the vast majority of Americans support responsible gambling measures. When asked about responsible gambling requirements if their state was to legalize sports betting, 63% felt it was important for operators to implement such measures. By a 2 to 1 margin, clear majorities also believe it is important to set aside some revenues for treatment and for public awareness campaigns.

“We’ve learned that almost three quarters of the American public likes to gamble every now and then and that most do so responsibly. However, there are a small but significant number who are indulging in risky practices or who don’t understand how gambling works,” said Don Feeney, Gambling Policy Consultant for National Council on Problem Gambling and President of Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance. “As we continue to analyze the data we anticipate learning more about these people and how we can help reduce their risks.”

For additional insights on problem gambling, please visit www.ncpgsurvey.org.