This has been confirmed by a study by the Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M) which shows that, in recent years, the number of players has increased. Of course, the amounts we invest are less than a few years ago. The explanation is very simple: in times of crisis, society feeds on illusions and the game always generates expectations of success.
Scientists from the UC3M Institute of Policy and Governance (IPOLGOB) have decided to review the impact of the crisis not on our pockets, the results of which would be evident, but on the way we invest in games of chance. Thanks to the data collected between 2009 and 2011, they have been able to observe that in these years the number of people who gamble has increased but they do so by risking smaller amounts. In addition, everyday players have decreased their playing frequency, which has led to a decrease in the overall amount of play.
As Francisco Javier Ruíz Martínez, from the UC3M Department of Political Science and Sociology explains, ” The crisis has encouraged people who gambled very occasionally to play small amounts driven by the desire or illusion of obtaining a prize , large or small, that can solve life or, at least, alleviate some economic hardship “. That is to say, in times of lean cows, illusions increase in anticipation of winning and getting out of the well.
Likewise, the study has analyzed online gambling, verifying that the trend has ceased to be upward to stagnate, also noting the crisis in this type of game. According to the data collected, while in 2010 about 671 million euros were played online, in 2011 the amount dropped to 649 million, that is, 3.3 percent less.
According to the data, most of the usual players usually bet between 6 and 30 euros per month and on weekdays they only dedicate 10 minutes to this activity, which denotes that it is an impulsive activity. In addition, according to the analysis for 70 percent of Internet gamblers, gambling is a hobby, while for the remaining 30 percent it is a business with which to earn money.
