06.04.2017
Ukrainians’ attitudes towards gambling
- According to a survey conducted by the Rating Group, only 24% of Ukrainians consider themselves gambling-prone people, while 75% say this trait is not characteristic of them. Gambling-prone respondents are more common among urban residents, men, younger people, the employed, and the more educated.
- 46% of respondents have a positive attitude toward gambling that does not involve money or winnings. The most favorable attitudes toward this type of entertainment are found in the South. Urban residents, men, younger respondents, and wealthier people are also more supportive. By contrast, only 11% have a positive attitude toward gambling for money. In general, the higher the level of education and income, the more positive the attitude toward such activities.
- More than 70% believe that gambling can lead to addiction, and another one in five rather agrees with this view. At the same time, only 2–4% said that they personally or their relatives had experienced such addiction.
- 74% of respondents believe that responsibility for gambling addiction lies primarily with the individual, while 22% say it should lie with the organizers of gambling activities.
- 67% believe that an adult has the right to gamble for money, while 27% hold the opposite view. Men, urban residents, younger people, the more educated, and wealthier respondents are more convinced that an adult should be free to decide whether to gamble.
- Among gambling activities, respondents are most favorable toward lotteries: 32% support them, while 60% do not. 17% view bookmaker betting positively, 76% negatively. 13% have a positive view of casinos and 83% a negative one. For online casinos, 8% are positive and 86% negative; for card games for money, 8% positive and 88% negative; for slot machines, 7% positive and 91% negative. Older respondents and those with lower incomes are more negative toward all forms of gambling.
- 83% said they had not gambled for money in the past five years, while 17% had done so at least once. Gambling is somewhat more common among urban residents, men, younger people, and the better-off. Among those who consider themselves gambling-prone, almost half had gambled for money.
- Among money-based games played over the last five years, lotteries were mentioned most often (23%). 8% had placed bets with bookmakers, 8% had played slot machines, 7% had played cards for money, 4% had used online casinos, and 3% had played in casinos. Younger and wealthier respondents played more frequently.
- Asked whether they would like to gamble for money in the future, respondents most often chose lotteries (21%). 9% would like to place bets with bookmakers, 8% to play in casinos, 6% to play cards for money, 5% to use slot machines, and 5% to play online casinos. Younger and wealthier respondents expressed greater interest.
- 87% know that gambling is banned in Ukraine, while 13% do not. 73% support the ban, while 22% do not. Support is higher among older people, women, and those with lower incomes.
- At the same time, assessments of the ban’s consequences differ sharply from support for it. Only 17% believe the ban has been successful, while 71% say it has been rather or completely unsuccessful. 79% believe the ban pushed gambling into the shadow economy, 57% say it reduced state and local budget revenues, and 43% believe it reduced employment (almost the same share think it did not). Nearly half believe the ban did not reduce the number of people who spend money on gambling, and 57% say it did not reduce gambling addiction.
- When asked which forms of gambling could be allowed in Ukraine, 58% said lotteries, 25% bookmakers, 18% casinos, 11% online casinos, 9% slot machines, and 7% card games for money. At the same time, one third believe that none of these should be allowed. Younger and wealthier respondents are more tolerant of legalization.
- 45% believe there are no advantages to legalizing gambling. 38% say legalization could bring additional tax revenue, about 20% think it could reduce corruption or create jobs, and 12% believe it could attract foreign tourists or stimulate entrepreneurship.
- 34% say legalization should be allowed only in special gambling zones (like Las Vegas), 29% through strict penalties and license revocation, 22% only in luxury hotels, and 21% with mandatory bans for addicted players. Only 8% support legalization with minimal restrictions, while 36% believe legalization is unacceptable under any conditions.
- A quarter of respondents believe only Ukrainian companies should be allowed to operate if gambling is legalized; 7% would allow companies from the EU, 2% from the USA, and less than 1% from Russia. 20% would allow companies from any country, while 40% would allow none at all.
Methodology
- Respondents: residents of Ukraine aged 18 and older. The sample is representative in terms of age, gender, region, and place of residence.
- Total sample: 2000 respondents.
- Personal formalized interview (face-to-face).
- The margin of error does not exceed 2,2%.
- Fieldwork dates: 17-27 March 2017
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