GambleAware Wants Urgent Action to Protect Young People

Charity GambleAware has called for “urgent, coordinated action” to protect children and young people (CYP) from gambling harm, after collating evidence from several surveys looking into the associations between children and gambling.

The call to action was made in GambleAware’s report titled “Gambling Harms and Young People in Great Britain: A State of the Nation.” Within the report, GambleAware provided an overview of GambleAware-funded research on gambling-related harms and CYPs, which refers to children under the age of 18 and adults aged 18-24.

The purpose of the report is to inform three new commissioners who were appointed to oversee gambling harms research, prevention, and treatment following the announcement of the introduction of a new statutory levy in August.

The levy will be charged to all licensed gambling activity at varying levels depending on the sector and the nature of the gambling activity; it will fund independent research, as well as prevention and treatment services.

Increased involvement from CYPs

GambleAware referenced data published by regulator the Gambling Commission, which showed that as of 2025, 30% of 11 to 17-year-olds had spent their own money on gambling in the previous 12 months, which was up from 27% in 2024.

The Commission has put this down to a rise in unregulated gambling. In the 2024 report, 15% of respondents said they had gambled their own money on unregulated gambling, and this increased to 18% for 2025.

That report also showed 49% of 3,666 respondents who were aged between 11 and 17 had had some experience of gambling in the year prior, although the vast majority of this gambling activity was not via the usual methods of betting with a bookmaker; the format of gambling which scored highest for gambling activity was arcade gaming machines.

Tracking exposure

Separate research published this year showed that more than a third of people between the ages of 11 and 24 were found to have been exposed to gambling-related marketing in games that feel like gambling (37%), and 27% of CYPs said they have gone on to interact (like/click/ share/watch) with such content.

Meanwhile, a third of 11-17 year-olds (31%) and just under half of 18-24s (45%) stated they see gambling adverts most often on their phones / computers / tablets via social media, games and apps.

Within the same research paper, 68% of CYPs aged 18-24 agreed it is difficult to avoid gambling advertising and marketing.

White Paper criticised

GambleAware also touched on the 2023 White Paper, which outlined several reforms to gambling in the UK, including a framework for affordability checks and a £5 stake cap on online slots, which was implemented in April.

GambleAware claims the White Paper has not adequately addressed the harm experienced by CYPs, including areas such as gambling marketing and advertising.

Call to action

GambleAware acknowledged findings may not capture the full breadth of evidence across the wider academic and policy landscape, and that it is difficult for research to keep up with the rapidly-evolving sector, but still called for a more joined up approach to tackling the issue.

GambleAware said:

“Policies should prioritise prevention, restrict marketing and influencer content, and remain adaptable to the rapidly-evolving digital environment. Early support and education delivered online, in youth settings, and in schools must be easy to access and responsive to young people's realities.

“Regulation must evolve alongside technology to address the blurred boundaries between gaming and gambling. Parents and other trusted adults should be supported to have open, non-stigmatising conversations about gambling and gambling-related harms.”