UK regulator warns youth problem gambling stability despite
The new study by the British Gambling Commission (BGC), conducted by the consultancy Ipsos UK, shows that 1.2% of young British people exhibit behaviors associated with problem gambling, a figure slightly lower than the 1.5% recorded in 2024, but which the body considers “statistically stable.”
The survey — based on responses from 3,666 secondary school students — also reveals that 2.2% of minors are at risk, according to the DSM-IV-MR-J diagnostic scale, internationally used to measure the severity of gambling in adolescents.
“Although levels of problem gambling did not increase, it is concerning that they did not decrease either. We want to see a sustained downward trend, especially in the context of an increasingly accessible digital environment,” said Tim Miller, Executive Director of Research and Policy at the BGC.
Almost half of British teenagers have gambled in the past year
The report indicates that 49% of young people participated in some form of gambling or betting during the last twelve months, a figure practically identical to the previous year. However, there is an increase in gambling with their own money, which rose from 27% to 30%, mainly driven by the growth of unregulated gambling.
The use of unlicensed sites increased from 15% to 18%, reflecting greater exposure of minors to unauthorized platforms or those without effective age controls.
Still, most of the forms of participation detected do not constitute illegal activities:
- 21% played on arcade or amusement machines.
- 14% made informal bets with friends or family.
- 5% bet on card games for money in family settings.
The impact of advertising and social media
One of the most worrying data points in the study is the exposure of minors to online gambling advertising.
- Almost 50% of the young respondents said they see betting ads on social media at least once a week.
- 47% see them on mobile apps.
- A third stated they have seen influencers promoting content related to betting or online casinos.
These results reignite the debate about the impact of digital advertising and the presence of gambling brands in environments frequented by teenagers, a concern that the Commission has conveyed to the British Government within the framework of the White Paper on Gambling Reform published in 2023.
“We are working closely with digital platforms and operators to reduce minors’ exposure to inappropriate content and strengthen age verification mechanisms,” added Miller.
Motivations for gambling among young people
The study also analyzed the reasons that lead minors to gamble:
- 78% indicated they do it “for fun.”
- 36% said they seek to “win something,” although not necessarily money.
- 34% stated their main motivation is “to win money.”
The Commission highlighted that these figures reflect a cultural normalization of gambling as a form of entertainment, rather than a deliberate pursuit of profit, although it warns that this perception may increase the risk of addictive behaviors in the long term.
Implications for the iGaming industry
The report comes at a key moment for the British industry, which is facing a comprehensive review of online gambling regulation.
According to data from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), the British digital market exceeds £6.5 billion annually in GGR, representing more than 60% of the sector’s total revenue.
The body will use the study’s results to review the youth protection measures that operators must comply with, including age verification, spending limits, warning messages, and advertising restrictions.
The UKGC is also working in coordination with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to update the advertising code of conduct, especially regarding influencers and social media.
Tags: UK, United Kingdom, iGaming UK, UK betting