The Gambling Commission has released its 2025 Young People and Gambling Report, offering updated insights into how children and teenagers interact with gambling.
The research surveyed 3,666 students aged 11–17 across schools in England, Scotland, and Wales, using anonymous online questionnaires completed during class time.
According to the results, 49% of young people had taken part in some form of gambling within the last year, and 30% reported using their own money to do so.
Rates of gambling-related harm remained low at 1.2%, broadly in line with the 1.5% recorded in 2024.
Among those who spent their own money, the most common activities were legal or unregulated forms of gambling: arcade-style machines like penny pushers or claw grabbers (21%), informal betting with friends or family (14%), and card games played for cash (5%).
The Commission emphasises that licensed operators must maintain strict safeguards to prevent underage access to gambling. These requirements include mandatory age verification across all land-based venues and checks on anyone who appears to be under 25.
Tim Miller, ED of Research and Policy, stated:
Each year, this report further strengthens the understanding of the relationship between young people and gambling.
Even with that increased participation, the percentage of those scoring four or more on the youth-adapted problem gambling screen has not increased but has moved from 1.5% last year to 1.2% this year, which is classed as statistically stable.
Where it relates to regulated forms of gambling, we use the data to continuously keep under review and, where needed, strengthen the suite of protections for young people that we require gambling companies to have in place.
