An in depth examine orchestrated by the Swiss Institute for Addiction and Health Research (ISGF), on behalf of the Swiss Federal Gaming Board (SFGB) and the Intercantonal Gambling Supervisory Authority (Gespa), has dissected playing behaviors in Switzerland for the yr 2022. Utilizing knowledge from the Swiss Health Survey performed by the Federal Statistical Office, this complete evaluation gives insights into the evolving panorama of playing within the nation post-legalization of on-line gaming in 2019.
Decrease in playing participation noticed:
According to SFGB, in 2022, about 44.5% of survey respondents engaged in playing actions, a noticeable lower from the 55.0% reported in 2017. The Swiss lotteries remained essentially the most favored alternative with 39.4% participation, whereas non-public video games, desk video games at casinos, and slot machines adopted at decrease charges. Notably, engagement with Swiss on-line casinos reached 2.0%, reflecting a modest uptake for the reason that latest legalization. The participation in worldwide on-line playing platforms, nevertheless, decreased from 2.3% in 2017 to simply 0.8% in 2022, indicating a profitable shift of gamers to regulated home on-line platforms.
Despite variations in playing participation, the prevalence of dangerous and pathological playing behaviors has remained largely steady. In 2022, 5.8% of contributors have been recognized as partaking in dangerous playing behaviors, a slight enhance from 5.7% in 2017. Pathological gamblers made up 0.8% of the playing inhabitants, marginally rising from 0.6% in 2017. These figures underline the persistent problem of gambling-related harms, regardless of efforts to mitigate dangers by means of regulation and training.
The examine discovered increased charges of high-risk and pathological playing behaviors amongst sure playing codecs. Online video games at Swiss casinos offered the very best danger, with 37.6% of their gamers exhibiting problematic playing patterns, adopted carefully by worldwide on-line platforms at 35.2%. Slot machines at Swiss casinos and sports activities betting at Swiss lottery corporations additionally reported elevated danger ranges, emphasizing the necessity for sturdy preventive measures in these areas.
Financial expenditure on playing:
Financial engagement in playing revealed conservative spending habits amongst Swiss gamers. A majority of gamblers (47.8%) reported spending lower than 10 francs monthly, whereas 37% spent between 10 and 99 francs. This cautious method to playing expenditure could replicate a broader consciousness of playing dangers, probably influenced by elevated regulatory scrutiny and public well being initiatives.
The SFGB continues to prioritize the implementation of safeguards to guard weak gamers, guaranteeing that casinos adhere strictly to authorized necessities designed to stop gambling-related harms. With Switzerland’s on-line playing habits now leaning in the direction of nationally authorized platforms, the main target stays on fostering a protected and accountable playing atmosphere.
This report additionally compares Switzerland’s playing danger profiles with different European nations, discovering them to be within the medium to low vary, which speaks to the effectiveness of present regulatory frameworks and the potential for additional enchancment in participant security measures.
