The UK Gambling Commission recently released the 2025 Annual Report on Youth and Gambling, which revealed the current status and trends of adolescent gambling behavior through a confidential questionnaire survey of 3,666 students aged 11 to 17 in schools across England, Scotland, and Wales. The data shows that the participation rate of adolescent gambling is high, but the proportion of problem gambling remains low, and the commission also emphasized the importance of strengthening protective measures such as age verification.
Research Background and Data Source
This annual survey was conducted in 2025, covering schools in various regions of the UK, with 3,666 students aged 11 to 17 completing the online questionnaire in a classroom setting, ensuring the confidentiality and representativeness of the data. The report aims to provide the latest information on children and adolescents' participation in gambling activities, serving as a basis for policy-making.
Adolescent Gambling Participation
The survey results show that 49% of young people had participated in gambling activities in the past 12 months, with 30% using their own funds for gambling. The forms of participation are diverse, but the incidence of problem gambling is low, only 1.2%, which is stable compared to 1.5% in 2024, indicating that the overall risk is controllable.
Common Forms and Regulatory Measures
The most common forms of adolescent gambling include arcade games (such as coin-operated slot machines, accounting for 21%), small-scale gambling among friends or family (14%), and real money card games (5%). The Gambling Commission requires operators to strictly implement age verification, such as checking license holders in physical locations and inspecting customers who appear to be under 25 years old, to prevent minors from accessing gambling products.
Expert Interpretation and Future Directions
Tim Miller, the Executive Director of Research and Policy, pointed out that the report helps deepen the understanding of the relationship between adolescents and gambling. Although the participation rate has increased, the proportion of problem gambling has not increased, and the data is statistically stable. The commission will use this information to continuously review regulatory measures and, if necessary, strengthen the protection requirements for adolescents by gambling companies.
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