UKGC Reports That Nearly Half of 11 to 17-Year-Olds Have Experienced Gambling
Overview of the UK Gambling Commission’s Young People and Gambling Report
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has released its 2025 Young People and Gambling Report, highlighting significant findings about gambling behavior among minors aged 11 to 17 across the UK.
Rising Gambling Participation Among Youth
The annual Young People and Gambling study examines how children and teenagers interact with gambling activities, focusing specifically on their experiences within the previous year. The 2025 report collected data from 3,666 young respondents from schools and academies throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.
Findings revealed that 49% of the surveyed 11 to 17-year-olds had engaged in some form of gambling in the last 12 months. Moreover, nearly 30% of these youngsters reported spending their own money on gambling during this timeframe.
While most minors are prevented from participating in officially regulated gambling due to strict UK laws, the most common gambling activities were those not tightly controlled, including penny pusher or claw grab machines, which accounted for 21%. Additionally, 14% had placed bets involving friends or family, and 5% wagered on card games within social circles.
The percentage of young people experiencing gambling-related problems was about 1.2%, remaining relatively steady from 1.5% reported in 2024.
UKGC’s Measures to Prevent Underage Gambling on Regulated Platforms
To restrict minors from accessing regulated gambling, UKGC mandates that licensed operators perform stringent age verification for all customers. Staff are instructed to verify the age of any individual who appears younger than 25 to ensure compliance with these rules.
Besides enforcement, the commission continues separate investigations into early gambling exposure and the influence of gateway products on youth. Such products may include video game loot boxes, social gaming platforms, prize draws, and similar offerings that attract younger demographics.
Analysis of Participation Growth and Industry Oversight
Tim Miller, UKGC’s executive director of research and policy, reflected on the report’s insights, noting a 3% increase in gambling participation compared to 2024. However, he clarified that this rise is largely due to engagement in unregulated formats like arcade games and social wagers, not because children are encouraged to gamble through licensed operators.
“Even with that increased participation, the percentage of those scoring high on the youth problem gambling index has remained stable, moving from 1.5% last year to 1.2% this year,” Miller stated.
Miller emphasized that the UKGC is dedicated to continuously enhancing protections around regulated gambling products to safeguard young people.
The complete Young People and Gambling 2025 report can be accessed through the UK Gambling Commission’s official channels.
