If you asked a room full of people why they have a flutter, you might expect a mix of answers.
But according to a recent survey of 20,000 UK players, there is one main reason – and it’s probably not surprising.
Top of the list was the chance of winning big money, cited by a hefty 84% of people who gamble.
- Having Fun
- Want To Win? Know Which Games To Play
- Skill vs Luck
- How People Feel After Gambling
- What This Means For You
The survey, run by the UK Gambling Commission, also looked at how people felt about their gambling (scroll down to read more about that).
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Having Fun
But it’s not all about winning. Fun and excitement are firmly in the picture too.
Nearly seven in ten people (69%) said they gamble because it’s fun, and just over half (53%) because it’s exciting. So enjoyment is a factor that many people consider.
Want To Win? Know Which Games To Play
If your goal is to win, the smartest first move is knowing whether the game in front of you can be influenced at all.
Pure Chance: Slots, Roulette, Scratchcards, Lottery, Most Bingo
Every result here is independent, which means the game has no memory.
A slot that hasn’t paid out all evening is no more “due” than one that just did. If someone sells you a system for these, they’re selling you air.
⭐Our Advice: Play for fun, have a budget, and know that a win is down to pure chance.
A Hint of Skill: Poker, Blackjack, Sports Betting
These involve decisions that genuinely affect how things go.
For example; choosing to hit or stand in blackjack changes your odds. Plenty of chance still applies, and no session is ever a sure thing, but learning the right moves can inform how you play.
⭐Our Advice: Learn about the game you’re playing, but always remember that luck is a big factor too.
How People Feel After Gambling
The survey also asked people to rate how they felt about the last time they gambled, on a scale from 0 (hated it) to 10 (loved it).
The results were fairly spread out. Around 42% landed on the positive end with a score of 6 to 10, 36% sat right in the middle on a 5, and 22% came in at the lower end with a 0 to 4.
The hope of a win is a perfectly normal reason to play, but it’s also the reason a quick game can quietly turn into “just one more.”
Going in with a set budget and treating any winnings as a nice surprise rather than a plan is the sensible way to keep that instinct in check.
What This Means For You
None of this is a reason to stop enjoying a game you like, whether it is bingo, slots, or casino games.
Since the winning motive is the strongest one for most people, it’s the one most worth keeping honest about.
Set your limit before you start, treat the fun as the thing you’re actually paying for, and let any winnings be the bonus.
If gambling stops being fun for you, free and confidential support is available 24/7 from GamCare on 0808 8020 133 or via the National Gambling Helpline.
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