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
5 - Money matters more with age and experience
As boys move into young adulthood, gambling begins to take on a more purposeful and financial dimension. What starts as a light-hearted or social activity increasingly becomes tied to perceptions of independence, control, and the potential for profit. The motivation to "win" (and to win money specifically) becomes more prominent with age and experience, particularly among those gambling at higher levels of activity.
From enjoyment to financial motivation
For younger participants, gambling was often described as "a bit of fun" or a way to connect with friends, with little focus on outcomes. However, among those aged 18 years old and over, conversations about gambling were more likely to centre on the possibility of financial return.
Turning 18 brings not just legal access but also a shift in mindset: gambling becomes something to approach more deliberately, with strategy or good judgment. Early personal wins can be especially powerful in cementing this orientation:
"The main reason why I have profit is because of that time when I won £200 from 20p... none of that is my actual money. That’s how much I’ve won from free games."
24 year old, higher gambling activity
There was evidence that this early profitability encouraged them to push further:
"As I made more and more money, I then bet higher and higher."
24 year old, higher gambling activity
Early outcomes shape subsequent behaviour
Initial experiences on sports-betting and casino platforms appeared to set the tone for later engagement. Wins could legitimise routine play or higher stakes; repeated losses, for some, reduced interest altogether:
"I started winning more, so I was like, well, I can start putting more. I wasn’t really satisfied with getting £10 back - I was like, OK, well, if I’m winning, I’d rather get £100 back."
22 year old, higher gambling activity
The pull of perceived skill and control
Financial focus often sits alongside a belief that knowledge or research can influence results, especially in sports betting. This perceived control makes staking feel more justified than luck-based play:
"I quite enjoy the research side of it because I’m like into sports, into football... you might look up stats for like 10 minutes, bet on one of the stats to happen, and it happens straightaway. It feels like you’ve accomplished something in a way. And then obviously you’re rewarded with money... Whereas with the lottery, for example, I just feel like it’s obviously complete luck and that doesn’t really appeal to me because I don’t feel in control of that situation at all."
25 year old, lower gambling activity
Disposable income and life stage can accelerate the shift
For many, turning 18 coincides with first wages or student loans - moments when money feels more available, and gambling more affordable. Several described how income changes affected frequency and stakes:
"I was excited to have my own money for the first time but quickly found myself out of control — lost whole wages in days, couldn’t pay mum £30 rent. It’d be gone within two or three days... I couldn’t even afford rent."
18 year old, higher gambling activity
"If I was saving up for a car and couldn’t afford to lose any money, I wouldn’t bet at all."
22 year old, higher gambling activity
"I was spending more at uni because of COVID... we had nothing else to spend our money on. So we’d go to a casino or online and just get on the table."
24 year old, lower gambling activity
When money becomes the driver, behaviours adapt
As financial motives strengthen, some described chasing outcomes (for example, using past wins to justify higher stakes or "going again" to avoid ending on a loss). Others recognised when the balance tipped, and adjusted or stepped back:
"Over the last two months… the enjoyment of it’s kind of gone… Now I’ll just drive, watch football, have a drink, not spend."
20 year old, higher gambling activity
A note on mood and coping
For a minority, the financial frame co-existed with emotional drivers, using gambling as a way to manage stress or fill time - which, in turn, could nudge frequency upward:
"There were a few times where I’d be feeling stressed after work and I’d think, oh, this is normally the time when I might just open up my laptop and put a bet on."
23 year old, lower gambling activity
These accounts suggest that, for some, gambling can shift from a planned leisure activity to an emotional outlet - a pattern that may increase vulnerability over time.
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Online exposure makes gambling feel ever-present
Last updated: 11 December 2025
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