Half Of Older Children Experienced Gambling In In 2015, Regulator

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


Those getting involved in betting with their own cash is up from 27% in 2024, the Gambling Commission's annual Young People and Gambling Report said.


However, the regulator said the research revealed that it was not kids being encouraged or enabled to gamble underage that was driving the boost but instead increased participation in gambling that was either legal or did not require policy, such as personal wagering in between friends.


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


Tim Miller, Gambling Commission


The proportion of kids experiencing problems with their gambling was 1.2%, which the commission referred to as "statistically stable" with 2024's 1.5%.


The study was performed among 3,666 11 to 17-year-olds participating in academies, preserved and independent schools in England, Scotland and Wales, with pupils completing online self-completion studies in class.


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


Arcade video gaming was among the most common kinds of gambing among children, the report discovered (Alamy/PA)


Tim Miller, the Gambling Commission's executive director of research study and policy, said: "Each year this report even more enhances understanding of the relationship between young people and gaming.


"We have seen a boost in involvement in gambling - 27% in 2024 compared to 30% in 2025.


"The research study reveals that it is not kids being motivated or enabled to gamble underage driving this increase - it is the increased involvement in betting that is either legal or does not require guideline, such as personal wagering between friends.


"Even with that increased involvement, the portion of those scoring four or more on the youth-adapted problem betting screen has not but has actually moved from 1.5% last year to 1.2% this year, which is classed as statistically stable.


"Where it associates with regulated types of gaming, we utilize the data to continuously keep under evaluation and, where needed, enhance the suite of protections for young individuals that we need betting business to have in location."


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


"If the Government is serious about its manifesto commitment to decrease betting damage it must do something about it on gambling advertising."