Findings From the 2024 Young People and Gambling Report

The Gambling Commission has released the 2024 Young People and Gambling Report, an annual analysis examining the exposure and participation of children and young people in various forms of gambling.

The study was conducted in schools where students completed online surveys during class. Data was gathered from 3,869 individuals aged 11 to 17 between January and June 2024.

Young People and Gambling Report key findings

In the 12 months preceding the Young People and Gambling Report survey, 27% of young people used their own money to gamble. The prevalent forms of gambling activities they engaged in were either legal or not subject to age restrictions.

Arcade gaming machines, like penny pushers or claw grab machines, account for 20%. Betting money between friends or family represents 11%. Playing cards with friends or family for money constitutes 5%.

21% of young individuals are using their own money for regulated gambling activities, which are legal and occur within licensed venues, while 15% are engaging in unregulated gambling, which the Gambling Commission does not oversee.

Problem gambling

The percentage of young individuals scoring four or higher on the DSM-IV-MR-J screen (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition - Multiple Response Juvenile), indicative of problem gambling, has risen significantly from 0.7% in 2023 to 1.5% in 2024.

The Gambling Commission prioritises safeguarding children from gambling-related harm and enhanced its protective measures in August to prevent underage access to gambling products further.

Starting from 30 August, all licensees must implement procedures obliging their staff to verify the age of customers who look under 25 years old instead of the previous threshold of 21 years. Additionally, regardless of size, all land-based gambling licensees are required to conduct age verification test purchases.

Protections for young people

Tim Miller, Commission Executive Director for research and policy, said: 'Today’s report gives us important insights into the relationship between young people and gambling.

'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.

'However, the report also shows that young people often gamble in ways that do not require regulation, such as betting with their friends. Yet these forms of gambling can also lead to some experiencing harm. Our report points to the opportunities that parents, schools and other groups have to also help reduce gambling harm among children and young people.'

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