To ask the Minister for Communities (i) for an estimate of the number of problem gamblers in Northern Ireland; and (ii) for her assessment of the impact of betting company advertising in sport on problem gambling.

The most recent gambling prevalence survey carried out by my Department in 2016 and published in 2017 estimated the rate of problem gambling here at 2.3% of the population of people aged 16 and over.

The 2016 survey also included information on the top three most common gambling advertisements seen by respondents over a one month period. Sponsorship advertising, as distinct from sports advertising, was identified as one of the three most common forms of advertising seen at around 36%. Other common forms comprised television (80%) and on-line (47%).

Further information on the survey report can be accessed at the link below:-

2016-ni-gambling-prevalence-survey-main-report.pdf (qub.ac.uk)

I have not carried out any assessment as yet of the impact of betting company advertising in sport on problem gambling. This is an issue that I want to consider within the next phase of my gambling reforms.