BMG study: Has the number of gambling addicts exploded?

A study on gambling addiction published by the Federal Ministry of Health at the end of 2023 raises more and more questions. According to the study, the number of gambling addicts in Germany is said to have tripled within a very short period of time. The number of people with "problematic gambling behaviour" is even said to have increased tenfold. More and more politicians and experts are now questioning the results of the study.

In a study published a few months ago, the German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) concluded that eight percent of the German population between the ages of 18 and 70 suffer from at least "problematic gambling behaviour". By way of comparison, five years ago the ministry, headed by Karl Lauterbach (SPD), estimated the figure at 0.7%. GambleJoe also reported in December last year that 1.3 million Germans suffer from a "gambling disorder".

WELT: "Probably a study was carried out here to suit politics"

In a TV interview, WELT editor Elke Bodderas says that the figures from the latest BMG study on gambling addiction are not really comprehensible or plausible. The study concludes that between 2019 and 2023, the proportion of people in the German population who suffer from problematic gambling behaviour will increase almost tenfold, from 0.7% to 8%. Such an explosion in numbers seems dubious without a plausible explanation.

Especially since the German State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV) will come into force in 2021, allowing players to gamble legally in online casinos under comparatively strict conditions. The fact that there are a number of player protection regulations in place, such as a minimum play time of five seconds and a ban on autospin, is unlikely to have led to an almost tenfold increase in the number of addicts.

In the WELT interview, the journalist expresses a different suspicion:

"You get the strong impression that a study has been carried out that is supposed to fit in with politics."

Study provides no convincing arguments

The BMG study does not provide any arguments as to why the number of gambling addicts in Germany should have exploded to such an extent in just a few years. In addition, the data from the study is not yet available. As a result, a number of experts and politicians have cast doubt on the study's findings and criticised the research method. Statistician Katharina Schüller, for example, commented on the study in an interview with games & business in October last year:

"The Gambling Survey 2021 conveys a certainty of data and knowledge to its readers that is simply not given and is scientifically questionable."

Until 2019, the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) was responsible for scientific research on gambling addiction in Germany. However, the Ministry of Health has now awarded the contract to the Hamburg Institute for Interdisciplinary Addiction and Drug Research (ISD). The institute is supported by the University of Bremen.

It is also striking that the ISD and the University of Bremen were able to present their study results just three months after submitting the corresponding funding applications. Normally, it takes much longer for researchers to arrive at scientifically sound results. The Ministry provided the ITS and the University of Bremen with a total of 132,240 euros for the development of the "Gambling Atlas". As this was below the limit of 140,000 euros, the BMG did not have to put the contract out to public tender, but could award it directly.

Conclusion

It is indeed highly implausible that the number of people in Germany with problematic gambling behaviour will increase tenfold between 2019 and 2023. The fact is, however, that the significant increase in the number of gambling addicts plays into the hands of the Federal Ministry of Health. It allows the ministry to push through its own interests, such as an even more strictly regulated gambling environment. There is also the media attention that the BMG generates with the high numbers.

Image source: https://pixabay.com/de/photos/bundestag-deutsche-fahne-reichstag-2463236/