GRAI reports 54% of online gamblers have opened a second account
Regulation1 min read
In brief
- An ESRI study of 1,000 adult gamblers, commissioned by the GRAI, found 54% of online players had a second account.
- 25% of respondents said they were reducing or planning to reduce their gambling.
A study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) looked at 1,000 adult gamblers. Over half of online players, or 54%, have a second account. The research is among the most comprehensive studies GRAI has commissioned since its tenure began in March 2025.
One in five online players said gambling sessions were taking away their family and work time off, while one in seven in-person gamblers said likewise. Losses were more common than breaking even or winning: 57% of online players and 50% of in-person gamblers ended their latest session out of pocket. 25% of respondents said they were either reducing their gambling or planning to. ESRI reported that many respondents often found opening an online account and depositing easier than closing it and withdrawing winnings.
Anne Marie Caulfield, CEO of the GRAI, said one of its statutory functions is to track and assess developments in gambling practices, both domestic and international. Caulfield said that spotting practices of concern and assessing how effective regulations are requires understanding consumers' real-life experiences when they gamble, increasingly online. She added that the GRAI commissioned the ESRI to obtain a real-world understanding of gambling behaviour.