UK Gambling Commission Publishes Latest Estimates on Young People and Gambling
The UK Gambling Commission has released the latest official statistics from its Young People and Gambling survey, indicating a decline in gambling participation among 11 to 17 year olds across Great Britain. The 2026 report, produced by Ipsos, is based on responses from 3,867 pupils and provides regulators, operators, and safeguarding bodies with updated evidence on how young people encounter and engage with gambling.
Headline Findings
The survey estimates that 26% of 11 to 17 year olds spent their own money on gambling in the 12 months prior to completing the questionnaire. Importantly, the Commission notes that the majority of this activity was legal or took place on products that are not age-restricted, such as category D gaming machines, which are permitted for use by under-18s.
Participation in age-restricted gambling has fallen markedly. The report estimates that 5% of 11 to 17 year olds took part in age-restricted gambling activity, a substantial decrease from 18% recorded in 2025. Fruit and slot machines were identified as the most common forms of age-restricted gambling among this group.
The broader experience of gambling among young people has also declined over recent years. The proportion of young people who have experienced gambling in the last 12 months has fallen from 50% in 2022 to 45% in 2026. Correspondingly, approximately three in four 11 to 17 year olds reported never having gambled.
The annual survey remains the principal evidence base for understanding gambling behaviour among children and young people in Great Britain, and its findings inform regulatory policy, licensing decisions, and safer gambling obligations. Previous editions of the report have tracked participation through the DSM-IV-MR-J screen, with the 2025 publication recording 1.2% of respondents scoring four or more, the threshold associated with problem gambling.
The Commission has also engaged with methodological feedback on the survey. In response to correspondence regarding the August 2026 iteration, the regulator examined findings relating to advertising, including the proportion of young people – around 5% – who reported being prompted to gamble by advertising or promotions. This ongoing dialogue reflects the sensitivity of youth prevalence data and the importance the Commission places on the accuracy and interpretation of its statistics.
