Just over one quarter (26 percent) of 11 to 17 year olds spent their own money (for example pocket money, birthday money or money they earned themselves) on gambling activities in the 12 months prior to taking part in the survey.

Young people were most likely to have spent their own money on arcade games such as penny pusher or claw grab machines (19 percent) or bet for money between friends or family (11 percent), than other gambling activities, as shown in Figure 1.

The amount of young people spending their own money on gambling activities has decreased this year, by 5 percentage points from 31 percent, when compared to 2022. Arcade games and bets for money between friends or family were also the most likely activities for young people to have spent their money on in 2022 at 22 percent and 15 percent respectively.

Figure 1: Young people’s active involvement in gambling – top ten gambling activities young people spent their own money on

A bar chart showing the top ten gambling activities young people spent their own money on. Data from the chart is provided within the following table.

Figure 1 information

GAMSPEND4. And when did you last spend money on [this activity or these activities]? Was it …?
Base: All 11 to 17 year olds answering (3,453).
Note: multiple response question, therefore answers do not sum to 100 percent.

Figure 1: Young people’s active involvement in gambling – top ten gambling activities young people spent their own money on
Top ten gambling activities young people spent their own money on	Percentage (multiple response question, therefore answers do not sum to 100 percent)
Spent money on any gambling activity in last 12 months	26%
Played arcade gaming machines	19%
Placed a bet for money between friends or family	11%
Played cards for money	5%
Played fruit or slot machines	3%
Played bingo at somewhere other than a bingo club	1%
Placed a bet on esports	1%
Placed a bet at a betting shop or bookies	1%
National Lottery scratchcards	1%
National Lottery draw	1%

Young people were more likely to spend their own money on regulated forms of gambling (19 percent), than unregulated forms of gambling (14 percent) in the last 12 months. The figure for regulated forms of gambling includes machines and bingo play in premises that are not regulated by the Gambling Commission but have a permit from the local council, while the unregulated figure includes bingo play in premises where bingo is licensed, requires permits and where no permission is required (further explanation of terms used in the report can be found in Appendices . Removing arcade gaming machines, which young people can play legally, the percentage of 11 to 17 year olds who spent their own money on forms of regulated gambling falls to 4 percent.

Young people were also more likely to spend their own money on regulated forms of gambling than unregulated forms of gambling in 2022. The proportions, however, have decreased this year from 23 percent and 18 percent respectively.

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Variations in active involvement in gambling

Last updated: 15 December 2023

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Young People and Gambling 2023

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Young people's active involvement in gambling

Figure 1: Young people’s active involvement in gambling – top ten gambling activities young people spent their own money on

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