The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published its 2024 Young People and Gambling Report – its annual study into children’s and young people’s exposure to, and involvement in, all types of gambling.

The research was conducted in schools, with pupils completing online self-completion surveys in class. The study collected data from a sample of 3869 11 to 17 year olds between January and June 2024.

Headline statistics include:

• 27% of young people spent their own money on gambling in the 12 months prior to taking part in the survey

• the most common types of gambling activity that young people spent their own money on were legal or did not feature age restricted products, namely:

1. arcade gaming machines such as penny pushers or claw grab machines (20%)
2. placing a bet for money between friends or family (11%)
3. playing cards with friends or family for money (5%)

• 21% of young people were spending their own money on regulated forms of gambling (which includes some activities that are legal and played within licensed premises), and 15% on unregulated forms of gambling (gambling activities which fall outside the remit of the Gambling Commission)

• the proportion of young people scoring 4 or more on the DSM-IV-MR-J, representing a young person experiencing problem gambling, has seen a statistically significant increase from 0.7% in 2023 to 1.5% in 2024.

Protecting children from gambling harm is a priority for the Commission and in August it further strengthened its protections to prevent children from accessing products illegally.

From 30 August all licensees should have procedures that require their staff to check the age of any customer who appears to be under 25 years of age, rather than under 21 years of age, and all gambling land-based licensees, including smaller licensees, must carry out age verification test purchasing.

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.”