No methodological changes to the 2023 Gambling Survey despite widespread criticism

The Gambling Survey 2023 is here. The message that the survey brings with it appears to be mixed with regard to the declared core objectives of the new State Treaty on Gambling: the number of problem gamblers has not changed significantly since 2021. Immediately after its publication, the current survey was repeatedly criticised due to the unchanged methodology, among other things.

According to those responsible, the gambling survey is intended to be a representative survey of the population. It is intended to provide insight into the gambling participation and problems of the German population and to contribute to the improvement of the relevant conditions.

A total of 12,308 interviews were conducted as part of the 2023 survey. The survey period ran from 1 August to 16 October this year. It was conducted by the Institute for Interdisciplinary Addiction and Drug Research (ISD) and the Gambling Research Unit at the University of Bremen. Together with the German Lotto and Toto Block (DLTB), which is sponsoring the survey, the main results of the study were presented in Berlin at the beginning of March 2024.

The main finding of the Gambling Survey is that the number of problem gamblers in Germany has remained largely constant compared to 2021. On the one hand, this is of course not entirely bad news, as the liberalisation of the market has made gambling more accessible to many people and generally more part of everyday life. On the other hand, however, it must also be recognised that one of the core concerns of the new State Treaty on Gambling is to better protect German players. The fact that there has been little change in this regard can hardly be considered a success. However, the main criticism that has been voiced from various quarters has less to do with the mixed result than with the way in which it was achieved.

The Gambling Survey 2023 delivers constant figures

As the organisers and initiators of the Gambling Survey 2023 announced at a press conference in early March 2024, there have been no major changes in the number of Germans with a gambling disorder.

The following figures were explained:

• A total of 2.4 per cent of the population aged between 18 and 70 are said to have problem gambling behaviour.
• A mild disorder was identified in 1 per cent of Germans.
• A moderate or severe problem was found in 0.7 per cent.

In 2021, an overall figure of 2.3 per cent was measured. The figures for 2023 can therefore be described as constant. Nevertheless, there has actually been a slight increase.

DAW and DSWV strongly criticise the 2023 Gambling Survey

The Gambling Survey 2021 has already had a tough time: in particular, the massive criticism of the survey and the downright questioning of its suitability as a scientific basis for a political discussion on problem gambling by the statistician Katharina Schüller caused major waves in the gambling industry. Schüller pointed to shortcomings in control, methodology and results.

This is where the criticism of the 2023 version of the survey comes in.

In a statement, Georg Stecker, spokesman for the board of the German Gaming Association (DAW), clearly questions the feasibility of the goals set for the 2023 Gambling Survey:

"A discourse on gaming behaviour in Germany based on facts and scientifically valid data is necessary and important for politics, administration, science and associations. Unfortunately, however, despite massive scientific criticism, the survey design was retained and the limited informative value of the survey was not made clear in today's presentation of the results of the current survey. The errors that, according to experts, do not allow extrapolation to the population as a whole were also continued in the new edition of the Gambling Survey 2023. As a result, the 2023 survey unfortunately also fails to achieve its goal of drawing reliable conclusions about aspects of gambling disorders. The survey therefore does not provide a sound basis for decisions on the evaluation and adjustment of legal regulations! Nevertheless, only the contents of the previous 2021 survey formed the data basis for the so-called 'Gambling Atlas 2023'. This approach is negligent, especially in view of the evaluation of the state treaty planned for the end of 2026, and jeopardises proper decisions - and this in times of a rampant black market!"

The President of the German Sports Betting Association (DSWV), Mathias Dahms, reacted with similar irritation to DAW in a press release:

"Despite criticising the previous 2021 survey, it is remarkable that the authors have not changed anything about their methodology. They continue to ignore the objections of other scientists and provide insufficient information on the limitations of their study."

The DSWV is also calling for a "thorough review of the survey". It also expects "the publication of the raw data, as transparency of data collection and analysis is of crucial importance for the scientific discourse": this is what it says in the press.

Conclusion

Image source: https://pixabay.com/photos/thinking-person-person-thinking-2681494/