Three in ten (30 percent) young people had experienced play on arcade gaming machines, in the last 12 months. This proportion was highest amongst those aged 11 to 13 years old (33 percent), while it was 28 percent for those aged 14 to 16 years old and lowest for those aged 17 years old (25 percent). Differences were also evident across ethnicity with young people from white ethnic groups more likely to have played arcade games in the last 12 months, than young people from ethnic minority backgrounds (32 percent, compared to 24 percent).

Experience of playing on fruit or slot machines was lower. Just 6 percent of young people did so in the last 12 months.

There has been a 5 percentage point decrease in the proportion of young people who had experienced play on arcade gaming machines since 2022 (35 percent in 2022). While young people of white ethnic groups remain more likely to have played arcade games in the last 12 months than other ethnic groups, there has been a decrease in this figure (38 percent in 2022).

There has been no change in the experience of playing on fruit and slot machines in comparison to 2022. Again, it should be noted that the 2022 sample did not include year 12 pupils or independent schools, so any differences are indicative only.

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Last updated: 16 November 2023

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