The UK Gambling Commission has released the Young People and Gambling Report 2025. It reveals how children and teenagers between the ages of 11 and 17 interact with gambling. The study was carried out in schools across England, Scotland and Wales. A total of 3,666 pupils completed an online survey during class, giving researchers a full picture of their spending patterns and gambling habits.

According to the report, 49 percent of young people said they had taken part in some form of gambling within the past 12 months. While not all of them spent money, the survey shows that gambling continues to be part of many young people’s daily lives. About 30 percent of those surveyed said they had used their own money to gamble during the past year.

Low but Stable Levels of Gambling Problems

The report highlights that problem gambling among young people remains low. In the 2025 survey, 1.2% of respondents scored high enough to be classed as having a gambling problem, compared with 1.5% in 2024. Researchers say this small drop doesn’t show any real change in risk, as the difference is too small to be considered significant.

Tim Miller, the Gambling Commission’s Executive Director of Research and Policy, said the findings help deepen understanding of how gambling affects young people. He explained that even with the rise in overall participation, the rate of serious gambling harm has not increased. He added that the Commission will continue using this data to strengthen protections whenever needed.

Types of Gambling Most Common Among Young People

The report highlights the kinds of gambling activities young people engage in. The most common are forms of gambling that are either legal for all ages or not formally regulated. The survey shows that 21 percent of young people spent money on arcade style machines such as penny pushers and claw grab machines. Small private bets with friends or family were reported by 14 percent of respondents. Card games that involve winning and losing money were less common at 5 percent.

These types of activities are widely accessible in everyday environments, which may explain why so many young people take part in them.

Stronger Protections for Underage Access

The Gambling Commission said it requires all licensed gambling operators to have strong measures in place to prevent children from accessing age restricted products. These include strict age verification for all land based venues and rules that staff must check the age of anyone who looks under 25.

The Commission says it will continue reviewing and updating these protections to ensure young people remain safe as the gambling market changes.