The Social Welfare Bureau of Macau (IAS) has revealed data from a University of Macau survey, shedding light on the gambling habits of the adult population in 2022. The survey highlighted a decline in gambling participation and associated disorders compared to 2019.
Participation Rate and Disorder Prevalence:
The survey found that 30.1% of the adult Macau population engaged in gambling activities in 2022, with 0.45% of this adult population identified as having a gambling disorder. This participation rate showed a significant drop of 10.8 percentage points from the 40.9% rate reported in 2019.
Common Gambling Activities:
The most prevalent gambling activities among Macau residents included social gaming (15.6%), Mark Six lottery (13.0%), casino gaming (5.6%), slot machine parlors (3.0%), and soccer or basketball betting (2.5%).
Gambling Disorder Assistance during the Pandemic:
Ms. Wu I Mui from the Social Welfare Bureau mentioned on Radio TDM that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of individuals seeking help for gambling problems decreased to about 60% of pre-pandemic levels. In the first half of the current year, there were 19 cases requesting assistance related to gambling disorders, and no evident increase in gambling disorders has been noted so far.
The study portrays a notable decline in gambling participation and disorder prevalence in Macau, potentially attributed to various factors including the impact of the pandemic. The findings provide valuable insights for managing gambling-related issues and developing targeted support and interventions.