Half Of Older Children Experienced Gambling In Last Year, Regulator

Half of 11 to 17-year-olds experienced gambling over the previous year and 30% spent their own cash doing so, according to most current figures.


Those taking part in betting with their own money is up from 27% in 2024, the Gambling Commission's yearly Young People and Gambling Report stated.


However, the regulator said the research revealed that it was not kids being encouraged or allowed to gamble underage that was driving the increase but rather increased participation in betting that was either legal or did not require regulation, such as personal wagering in between good friends.


Each year this report even more enhances understanding of the relationship in between youths and gambling


Tim Miller, Gambling Commission


The percentage of children experiencing problems with their betting was 1.2%, which the commission described as "statistically stable" with 2024's 1.5%.


The study was performed amongst 3,666 11 to 17-year-olds going to academies, kept and independent schools in England, Scotland and Wales, with students completing online self-completion surveys in class.


The most typical kinds of gambling that youths invested their own money on remained those that were legal or not age-restricted, many frequently arcade video gaming makers such as penny pusher or claw grab machines (21%), followed by positioning a bet for money between friends or household (14%) and playing cards with friends or household for cash (5%).


Arcade gaming was one of the most typical forms of gambing amongst children, the report found (Alamy/PA)


Tim Miller, the Gambling Commission's executive director of research and policy, stated: "Each year this report further reinforces understanding of the relationship in between youths and betting.


"We have actually seen an increase in involvement in gambling - 27% in 2024 to 30% in 2025.


"The research reveals that it is not children being encouraged or allowed to gamble minor driving this boost - it is the increased participation in betting that is either legal or does not require regulation, such as personal wagering between buddies.


"Even with that increased involvement, the percentage of those scoring 4 or more on the youth-adapted issue betting screen has actually not increased however has actually moved from 1.5% in 2015 to 1.2% this year, which is classed as statistically stable.


"Where it relates to regulated forms of gambling, we use the information to continually keep under review and, where required, strengthen the suite of protections for youths that we require gambling business to have in location."


Will Prochaska, who leads the Coalition to End Gambling Ads, said: "The percentage of children gambling and experiencing problems is frightening and driven by common marketing pushed to them through sport, video game, and by online influencers.


"If the Government is major about its manifesto dedication to lower gambling harm it must do something about it on betting advertising."