According to GamCare data, online slot machines were cited by 3 out of 5 UK internet gamblers who sought help last year.
 Facts from GamCare
 According to statistics retrieved from GamCare's National Gambling Helpline, slot machines remain the most often mentioned activity among individuals seeking assistance for gambling-related problems.

 About 60% of those who called the hotline in 2022–23 cited slots as one of the primary things that were worrying them.  Compared to last year, this was an increase of one point.  This number is nearly twice as high as the 34% who brought up the topic of online slots in 2018 and 2019.

 The data was collected from 5,660 individuals who called the hotline in 2022–23 and shared the kind of gaming they had problems with.  Of those, about three quarters(73%) voiced worries about gambling online.

 While reviewing the Gambling Act of 2005, the government is seeking public opinion on whether or not to impose maximum stake limitations on online slot machines.  An evidence deadline of 4 October 2023 was set by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in July. This is in light of the fact that the department is considering a £2 to £15 per spin stake limit and slot-specific safeguards.

 "People still think that gambling is mostly harmful when they bet on horses or sports," stated Colin Walsh, GamCare's manager of lived experience.  "Over the last five years, we've noticed a noticeable pattern where individuals begin gambling on these activities but then move on to other forms of online gambling, where it's easy to become lost in the game and lose control of one's finances."

 Downward spiral
 Compared to 34% in 2018–19, 20% of internet gamblers still sought assistance with sports betting.  As for the third-largest category, "other casino games," its 15% share was up marginally from 14% the year before but much lower than 39% four years ago.

 A large number of persons who contact the National Gambling Helpline are now finding that online slots pose the greatest problem, according to Walsh.

 Because of my personal experiences and those of people in my network, I am aware of how challenging this type of gambling can be and how lonely it can get when you get stuck in a vicious cycle.  On the other hand, I am aware that there is free assistance available to anyone going through this, and that it is possible to overcome.