Should we be concerned about online gambling?
NO:
The gambling industry has enjoyed a strong period of growth in recent times. This has led to greater convenience and accessibility for punters than ever before.
The online area is the "sexy" one for paddypower.com, and it shows the greatest growth, albeit from a small base.
The greater choice created by such developments has been a godsend for punters, with a far wider range of products available to bet on provided by a far more accessible range of bookies. The increased competition has led to higher standards, greater responsibility and, most importantly, better value.
One of the main reasons why the industry has enjoyed this period of growth is that more sport is being broadcast live on television. In addition, this has come about at the same time as an increase in discretionary disposable income thanks to the recent economic boom.
The online-specific growth is part of a natural switch in society to using the internet for everyday tasks such as banking, booking travel, betting etc. Common sense would suggest that this will increase further with greater broadband penetration and as developments in technology make internet usage easier.
These natural developments in the industry are good news for punters. No longer has the punter the single option of going down to their local betting shop to place a bet. Now they can make a quick phone call or browse the internet at their leisure to find which bet, on which event, and with which bookie, suits them best.
Indeed, retail betting in Ireland has also evolved in the face of online growth, with Paddy Power shops now cleaner, brighter and more comfortable than before.
In fact, online betting is to Paddy Power what an off-licence is to a pub. It simply gives our punters the opportunity to bring their entertainment to their home environment if they wish.
As with any business, customer loyalty is a vital ingredient to success. The increased competition created by the lack of barriers online has lead to better value and better customer service across the industry.
One example of better customer service is the advanced account management facilities now available with paddypower.com, which make it easier for customers to manage their account, both in terms of tracking their betting and controlling how much they wish to spend over a particular period.
Also, if someone does feel that they are losing control of their betting, self-exclusion facilities are available online.
These measures are just a small part of the strong player-protection and "know your customer" policies that are in place with all reputable online betting providers.
Despite the aforementioned growth in online betting, it is important to keep things in perspective. In the UK, there has been extensive research into the socio-economic impact of the market changes in recent years.
The Gambling Commission's Gambling Prevalence Survey was published on behalf of the British government in September last. The report states that the rates of problem gambling in 2006 were the same as in 1999, when the first survey was commissioned by GamCare.
The report also states that, out of an adult population of more than 47 million people, 27 million played the National Lottery (57 per cent) but, interestingly, fewer than three million people bet online (6 per cent).
In Ireland, we at Paddy Power recently commissioned a survey by Lansdowne Market Research, which showed that of approximately three million adults in Ireland, about 1.3 million buy a lottery ticket weekly (44 per cent).
About 360,000 bet with a bookie monthly (12 per cent), while fewer than 65,000 people bet online (2 per cent).
So, according to the facts - and regardless of what claims may be made in certain sections of the media - we are dealing with a small number of people when it comes to online gambling.
Society should focus on protecting the vulnerable rather than restricting the choice and pleasure of many. This rings true with many societal problems and compulsive behaviours such as eating fast food, drinking alcohol and, of course, retail therapy.
The betting industry in Ireland has contributed more than €180 million (raised from direct betting taxes) over the past four years to the horse-racing and greyhound industries. Part of these funds is already applied to the regulation of the industry and to the preservation of the integrity of the industry.
The growth in online betting has led to more choice, more accessibility, more convenience, more competition, more control and, most importantly, better value for punters.
Paddy Power is head of communications at paddypower.com, Ireland's largest gambling company
