Report
Lived experiences of gambling in teenage boys and young men: Qualitative research
Qualitative research to explore the lived experiences of teenage boys and young men aged 14 to 25 years.
Contents
- About the research
- Summary of findings
- Research approach
- Findings
-
- Gambling literacy is low and often surface-level
- Gaming as a potential entry point to gambling
- Turning 18 marks a formal transition to "adult" gambling
- Gambling embedded in social life is more likely to persist
- Money matters more with age and experience
- Online exposure makes gambling feel ever-present
- Risks, impacts, and warning signs
- Conclusions
- Appendix
Expert discussion topics
To inform the research design, materials, and hypotheses, 3 sets of expert consultations were conducted with:
- the Gambling Commission’s Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP)
- members of the former Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG)
- key policy and stakeholder organisations (including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Ygam and GambleAware).
Each conversation followed a semi-structured guide to ensure consistent coverage of core themes while allowing experts to shape the discussion.
A. LEAP Discussion (60 mins)
Focus: ensuring the research design was engaging, ethical and appropriate for young participants.
Key areas covered:
- clarity, tone and accessibility of participant materials
- anticipated comfort, honesty and engagement among participants
- potential safeguarding concerns and ways to support participants
- feedback on diary tasks and interview questions
- expected themes and hypotheses around teenage boys’ and young men’s pathways into gambling and related harms.
B. ABSG Discussion (75 mins)
Focus: gathering expert perspectives on gambling behaviours, risk factors and protections for young men, and feedback on research design.
Key areas covered:
- common gambling and gambling-like behaviours among teenage boys and young men
- differences in experiences and harms between younger and older participants
- evidence-based and hypothesised risk and protective factors
- policy priorities for reducing harm
- ethical considerations and safeguarding in qualitative research with young people
- feedback on the proposed research structure, diary stage and depth interview approach.
C. Stakeholder Interviews (60 mins)
Focus: understanding the wider evidence and regulatory landscape, and aligning research priorities with existing work.
Key areas covered:
- definitions and scope of gambling and gambling-like behaviours
- patterns and drivers of gambling among teenage boys (14 to 17 years old) and young men (18 to 25 years old)
- pathways into riskier gambling behaviours
- current regulatory measures and perceived gaps
- policy priorities for harm reduction
- educational and parental awareness initiatives
- how to communicate about gambling and harm constructively with young people.
Participant discussion topics
Last updated: 11 December 2025
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