Young People Gambling Insights Revealed by UKGC Study

by Jamie Smith, 18 November 2025

New insights on how young people engage with gambling have been provided by a major new study published by industry regulator the Gambling Commission (UKGC).

Arcade machines are popular with young people.

Key Facts:

• 49% of young people have reported gambling in past year
• 3,666 pupils completed confidential online surveys in class
• Arcade gaming machines are particularly popular with youths
• Those experiencing gambling-related problems is low at 1.2%

UKGC’s Young People and Gambling Report 2025 is the latest annual study on the matter.

This year, 3,666 pupils aged between 11 and 17 were asked to complete online surveys in class, with their answers to the questionnaire remaining anonymous.

The students who took part were all attending academies, maintained and independent schools in England, Scotland and Wales at the time they were questioned.

UKGC’s report found that almost half (49%) of the young people surveyed had taken part in some form of gambling over the course of the past 12 months.

Meanwhile, almost a third (30%) of 11 to 17-year-olds reported that they had spent their own money on gambling over the last year.

Arcade Gaming Machines

For the purposes of the new UKGC research into young people, arcade gaming machines such as claw grabbers and penny pushers are classed as a form of gambling, though it is legal.

The study, which was conducted by Ipsos, found that playing arcade gaming machines was reported by one-fifth (21%) of the pupils who filled in the survey.

Placing a bet with money between family members or friends had been experienced by 14% of the respondents, while 5% had played card games for money with friends or family.

The study leaned on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition – Multiple Response Juvenile (DSM-IV-MR-J) screen.

In its statement on the report, the Gambling Commission stressed that one of the regulator’s top priorities is “protecting children and young people from harm”.

Young people reporting that they had experienced gambling-related problems stayed at a low level at 1.2%, which UKGC said was similar to the 1.5% reported in the 2024 annual report. The UKGC stated that there was not a sufficient drop in this figure to be classified as a reduction.

UKGC Strengthens Understanding

According to the Gambling Commission’s executive director of research and policy, Tim Miller, the findings of the annual report “further strengthens understanding of the relationship between young people and gambling”.

In a statement, he said: “We have seen an increase in participation in gambling – 27% in 2024 compared to 30% in 2025.”

“The research shows that it is not children being encouraged or allowed to gamble underage driving this increase – it is the increased participation in gambling that is either legal or does not require regulation, such as private betting between friends.”

“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.”

Miller went on to note how the Gambling Commission will use information in the report.

He added: “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.”