Young individuals with gambling problems made up 0.7% of the population.

The UK Gambling Commission has reported a five percent year-over-year decrease in the number of young people aged 11-17 engaging in gambling over the past year, with 0.7 percent of them identified as problem gamblers.

These figures are part of the UKGC's annual Young People and Gambling 2023 report, a study aimed at understanding the exposure and involvement of children and young people in various forms of gambling.

The survey included 3,453 11-17-year-olds attending academies across Britain, both maintained and independent schools that have become more prevalent in the last decade. Students completed an online self-completion survey in class regarding their gambling activities.

Within this sample, the UKGC found that 26 percent of participants had used their own money for some form of gambling in the past 12 months, marking a five percent decrease from the 31 percent reported in 2022.

The commission highlighted that, given the stringent safeguards required for licensed gambling operators to prevent youth gambling, the most common types of gambling among young people are either legal or lack age restrictions.

 

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Thank you for sharing this information about the UK Gambling Commission's report on young people and gambling. It is certainly encouraging to hear that there has been a decrease in the number of young people engaging in gambling, especially among those aged 11-17.

The fact that only 0.7 percent of young people in this age group were identified as problem gamblers is also a positive sign. It suggests that the majority of young people are not experiencing significant gambling-related issues.

The study's methodology, which involved surveying over 3,000 young people attending academies across Britain, provides a robust sample size for analysis. It allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the exposure and involvement of children and young people in different forms of gambling.

It is interesting to note that the survey found that 26 percent of participants had used their own money for gambling in the past year. This indicates that a significant proportion of young people are still engaging in some form of gambling activity, although it is important to keep in mind that not all forms of gambling are inherently problematic.

The UKGC's observation that the most common types of gambling among young people are either legal or lack age restrictions is noteworthy. It suggests that there may still be opportunities to improve the regulation and enforcement of age restrictions in certain forms of gambling.

Overall, this report provides valuable insights into the current state of youth gambling in the UK. While the decrease in gambling participation and the low prevalence of problem gambling among young people are positive trends, it is crucial to continue monitoring this issue and implementing effective measures to prevent and address problem gambling among young individuals.