Report
Assessment of online games design changes
Gambling Commission report focusing on research conducted into the impact of the online gambling games design changes.
Contents
- Executive summary
- Introduction
- Methodology and limitations
- Outcomes
- - Reduced play intensity
- - Consumer awareness
- - Reduced binge gambling
- - Gambling within consumer means
- - Complaints
- - Safer gambling measures
- - Increased trust in gambling providers
- - Reduced 'problem gambling' rates
- Assumptions
- - Staking behaviour
- - Session length
- - Use of multiple tabs
- - Games design
- - Displacement to other games
- - Time and position
- - Loss chasing
- - Displacement to other markets
- - Inconvenience for gamblers
- Conclusions and next steps
- Appendices
Inconvenience for gamblers
Summary
There is no evidence of reduced enjoyment for gamblers.
As well as making online slots products safer for those that were experiencing gambling-related harms, the Gambling Commission also wanted to minimise disruption to those who were not experiencing harms.
Through our Online Tracker Survey, we found no evidence of reduced enjoyment for gamblers. In addition to that feedback, there has been increased gambling frequency on online slots as a product since the changes.
As an indicative measure, there have been a very small number of complaints to the Commission’s Contact Centre (0.17 percent of calls over 12 months) about the changes, mainly the removal of autoplay. It should be noted, however, that this is not a highly reliable indicator as it depends on consumers reaching out to us. The most frequently mentioned reason in those complaints was reduced awareness of gambling activity, followed by physical discomfort, and highlighting the availability of 'auto clicker' workarounds.
Figure 9: Enjoyment of players playing online slots games
| Statement | September 2021 (percentage) | December 2021 (percentage) | March 2022 (percentage) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I enjoy playing online slots games | 66% | 67% | 73% |
| Base size (individuals) | 325 | 268 | 330 |
Displacement to other markets
Last updated: 8 June 2023
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