Half Of Older Children Experienced Gambling In In 2015, Regulator
Half of 11 to 17-year-olds experienced betting over the previous year and 30% spent their own money doing so, according to latest figures.
Those taking part in betting with their own money is up from 27% in 2024, the Gambling Commission's yearly Young People and Gambling Report stated.
However, the regulator said the research revealed that it was not kids being encouraged or permitted to gamble underage that was driving the increase but instead increased involvement in gambling that was either legal or did not require guideline, such as personal wagering between friends.
Each year this report further strengthens understanding of the relationship between young people and gambling
Tim Miller, Gambling Commission
The percentage of kids experiencing problems with their gaming was 1.2%, which the commission explained as "statistically steady" with 2024's 1.5%.
The study was performed amongst 3,666 11 to 17-year-olds participating in academies, maintained and in England, Scotland and Wales, with students finishing online self-completion studies in class.
The most typical types of gambling that young individuals spent their own cash on remained those that were legal or not age-restricted, the majority of commonly arcade video gaming machines such as cent pusher or claw grab devices (21%), followed by positioning a bet for money in between good friends or household (14%) and playing cards with good friends or family for cash (5%).
Arcade video gaming was one of the most typical kinds of gambing among youngsters, the report found (Alamy/PA)
Tim Miller, the Gambling Commission's executive director of research study and policy, said: "Each year this report even more strengthens understanding of the relationship in between youths and gaming.
"We have actually seen an increase in involvement in gaming - 27% in 2024 compared to 30% in 2025.
"The research study shows that it is not kids being encouraged or allowed to gamble underage driving this increase - it is the increased involvement in betting that is either legal or does not require policy, such as private betting between good friends.
"Even with that increased involvement, the portion of those scoring 4 or more on the youth-adapted issue betting screen has actually not increased however has actually 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 utilize the data to continuously keep under evaluation and, where required, reinforce the suite of securities for young individuals that we require gambling business to have in place."
Will Prochaska, who leads the Coalition to End Gambling Ads, said: "The percentage of children gambling and experiencing issues is frightening and driven by common marketing pushed to them through sport, computer system video games, and by online influencers.
"If the Government is serious about its manifesto dedication to lower betting harm it should do something about it on betting marketing."