New figures from Northern Ireland show something odd happening with gambling habits. People are gambling less overall, but way more are doing it online now, especially after 2020.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons got asked about this by MLA Diana Armstrong from Fermanagh and South Tyrone. She wanted to know if online gambling had gone up since the pandemic. Lyons used data from the Northern Ireland Gambling Prevalence Survey to answer.

The online gambling boom has opened up new avenues for players seeking alternatives. Many have turned to UK online casinos not on GamStop, which operate under different regulatory frameworks and often provide more extensive game selections than mainstream operators.

Here's what the numbers say: back in 2016, 67% of people gambled in some way. By 2024, that dropped to 57%. Online gambling shot up from 15.8% to 23% in those same years. That's a massive jump.

The survey broke down who gambles and how often. Men gamble more than women; only 36% of men said they never gamble, compared to 49% of women. Weekly gambling habits differ, too. About 36% of men have a flutter at least once a week, but only 22% of women do the same.

Marriage status matters as well. Divorced or separated people gamble most frequently, 38% of them bet at least weekly. Makes you wonder what's going on there.

Being stuck at home meant people found new ways to entertain themselves. Online betting sites became the obvious choice when physical venues shut down or became less appealing.

Right now, 29% of Northern Ireland residents gamble weekly. Another 13% do it monthly, and 15% gamble less often but at least once yearly. The market's gotten smaller but more focused on regular players who prefer digital options.

The switch to digital gambling mirrors what happened across other industries during the pandemic. Everything went online - shopping, work meetings, and entertainment. Gambling followed the same path.

This isn't just a Northern Ireland thing either. The whole of the UK and Ireland has seen online gambling grow while traditional betting shops struggle. High street bookmakers are closing branches while online operators expand their customer bases.

What does this mean for the future? Policymakers need to think differently about gambling regulation. The old rules were written for physical betting shops and casinos. Now most gambling happens on phones and computers, often through overseas operators.

Minister Lyons' response shows why tracking these trends matters. The gambling industry changes fast, and regulators need current data to make sensible decisions. What worked for regulating gambling ten years ago won't work now.

The demographics tell an interesting story, too. Younger people grew up with smartphones and apps, so online gambling feels natural to them. Older generations who preferred traditional bookmakers are either stopping gambling or reluctantly moving online.

Women's lower participation rates might reflect different marketing approaches or game preferences. Online platforms often target male sports bettors, potentially missing female audiences who might prefer different types of games or betting experiences.

The data suggests Northern Ireland's gambling landscape will keep evolving. Physical venues may continue declining while online options multiply. Understanding these shifts helps everyone, from players to policymakers to public health experts, navigate this changing environment.