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
7 - Risks, impacts, and warning signs
Even where few had experienced gambling-related harm, many recognised early warning signs
Because of safeguarding considerations, our sample did not include participants who had experienced significant gambling-related harm. However, most were able to describe potential "warning signs" through reflection on their own experiences, or those of peers and family members. Even teenage participants who mainly engaged in low-stakes gambling, or gambling-like activities, could identify when play might be taking a more negative turn.
Short-term effects such as frustration, irritability, or the compulsion to keep playing after a loss were commonly mentioned, alongside more serious patterns that participants recognised from older peers - such as gambling alone, chasing losses, or neglecting responsibilities. Many could connect these to a sense of loss of control: gambling becoming something they "had" to do rather than wanted to do.
"I was excited to have my own money for the first time but quickly found myself out of control - lost whole wages in days."
18 year old, higher gambling activity
The threshold for what counts as "harm" varies
Participants described a spectrum of warning signs, from temporary low mood or stress through to more sustained emotional and financial impacts. They tended to see short-term consequences, such as losing money or feeling annoyed, as normal or even a given part of the experience. It was only when harms became visible to others, or caused tangible difficulties (such as debt, conflict, or social withdrawal), that they were seen as serious. Among those with higher levels of gambling activity, it often took these more severe impacts to prompt reflection or change.
"It was starting to be addictive – I ended up doing it alone, would do it weekly, spending over £100 in a week. I enjoyed the rush but when I lost, I was angry."
17 year old, higher gambling activity
Risk factors compound around key transition points
Across the sample, harm was rarely linked to a single trigger. Rather, several situational and personal factors often coincided (especially around the legal threshold of 18 years old) to heighten vulnerability:
- sudden legal access: Turning 18 created an immediate gateway to new gambling opportunities, often tried as soon as they became available
- increased disposable income: Early paid work and student loans provided spending power, often without significant financial responsibilities
- limited financial literacy: Many admitted that money management skills were underdeveloped, and losses did not feel "real"
- youthful impulsivity: Several linked their gambling to self-perceived traits such as being "risk-takers" or having "addictive personalities".
Taken together, these factors could accelerate play from experimentation to higher-stakes or more frequent gambling.
"I think that’s when I had a job and it was cash in hand, and then like people at the place I was working would kind of do it on like lunch breaks and stuff and then I would just go along with them… That was probably more of a social aspect at the place I was working."
25 year old, lower gambling activity
Environmental and cultural influences further encourage play
Family and work environments were frequently cited as contexts that encouraged gambling. For some, gambling was a way to bond with fathers or colleagues; for others, it was a source of pressure or temptation. A similar effect was seen with widespread gambling visibility across sport and online spaces, reinforcing the sense that gambling is ever-present and prosocial.
Emotional and mental health impacts
Older participants especially described gambling as a coping mechanism during stressful or emotionally difficult periods, serving as a distraction from anxiety, grief, or change. While it provided short-term relief, it often left them feeling worse afterwards, linking emotional vulnerability to higher risk.
"After he passed away, I hadn’t been sleeping… Because I wasn’t sleeping… I was up at those times and I was bored. So I was betting on anything… Mexican football, basketball. I didn’t really know [them], but it kind of kept me busy at night."
22 year old, higher gambling activity
Risk-taking tendencies heighten vulnerability
Reflecting wider research trends, participants recognised that their own willingness to take risks could make them more susceptible. Some described this as part of their personality - "liking the buzz" or "chasing excitement". This aligns with data from the Young People and Gambling 2025 survey showing that teenage boys are more likely than girls to self-identify as risk-takers, which may increase exposure to potentially harmful play.
"I was definitely one of the worst ones [of my friends] though. Because I just have more of an addictive personality."
23 year old, lower gambling activity
Recognising and protecting against harm
Across the research, awareness of risk and harm was present, but thresholds for action were high. Many young men described needing to "learn the hard way" or experience tangible losses before moderating their behaviour. Interventions that make warning signs visible earlier, build both emotional and gambling literacy, and address combined situational risks (such as money management, impulsivity, and life transitions) are likely to have the strongest preventive impact.
Previous sectionOnline exposure makes gambling feel ever-present
Last updated: 11 December 2025
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