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The UK plans to introduce measures similar to anti-addiction mechanisms into the gambling industry to reduce the desire to gamble among bettors. According to reports, the UK Betting and Gaming Council has recently launched a software system that includes AI algorithms, which currently covers around ten thousand shops with betting machines.
Although it bears the name AI, the software is not particularly complex. It primarily monitors behaviors of gambling players, such as continuous chasing losses, spending too much time on a single gambling machine, and placing multiple bets in a short period. If a player is determined to be in an "emotionally unstable" state, the system will forcibly lock the machine for 30 seconds. During this time, a warning message similar to "please gamble responsibly" will appear on the screen. Additionally, along with the alert, the staff at the gambling shop will also receive a notification, and they may check on the player's condition and offer some "friendly" reminders.
However, some argue that the mandatory 30-second break does not have a significant effect, as it is challenging to calm down those who have lost and may even face admonishments from the staff in emotionally charged situations.
Professor Mark Griffiths, a professor of behavioral addiction at Nottingham Trent University in the UK, published a study in September evaluating whether the "90-second interruption" adopted by the Norwegian gambling industry could effectively reduce gamblers' desires. The results showed that the interruption during gambling had no significant impact on the amount of the next bet and the duration of continued gambling. In other words, gamblers still continued betting after the warning period ended. The professor does not have high hopes for the 30-second restriction implemented in the UK.
Currently, the gambling industry is a legal industry in the UK and contributes significantly to the economy and tax revenue. According to data released by the UK Betting and Gaming Council, the revenue generated by the gambling industry in the UK from October 2017 to September 2018 amounted to £14.5 billion, including national lotteries and various sports betting activities such as horse racing and football. However, online gambling constitutes the largest share.
Looking at the gambling population, the highest participation rate is among males aged 25-34. In the entire year 2018, approximately 37% of males in the UK participated in gambling, while the female participation rate was 28%. Gambling has brought about some social concerns, with the charity organization Gamcare stating that there are approximately 250-650 suicide cases related to gambling in the UK each year, with a rising proportion among young people.
The negative impact of gambling on young people has further extended to video games. The most typical discussion revolves around whether "loot boxes in games" should be considered gambling, with various governments and gaming industry organizations yet to reach a consensus on this definition. |
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Post time 31-1-2024 06:53:54