Report
Young People and Gambling 2026: Official statistics
Gambling Commission report produced by Ipsos on young people and their gambling behaviour, attitudes and awareness in 2026.
Contents
- Executive summary
- Wider experience of gambling
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- Summary
- Definitions
- Wider experience and active involvement in gambling
- Experience of different categories of gambling activities
- Experience of different types of gambling activities
- Who young people were with when they experienced gambling
- Being stopped from gambling for being too young
- Gambling in the context of young people’s spare time activities
- Gambling in the context of other risk-taking behaviours
- Active involvement in gambling and experience of problem gambling
- Trends in gambling behaviours: 2022 to 2026
- Young people’s exposure to gambling
- The impact of gambling on young people
- Gambling activities and gaming
- Perspectives on gambling: Awareness, attitudes and behaviours
- Appendices
Introduction
This report contains the findings from the Gambling Commission’s annual study, produced by Ipsos, exploring gambling behaviours among young people in Great Britain.
The survey examined young people’s involvement in gambling activities, including age-restricted products, where they gamble and with whom, their perceptions of gambling and awareness of gambling advertising. The survey also asked a series of questions relating to potential consequences associated with gambling and utilised the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition - Multiple Response Juvenile (DSM-IV-MR-J) to classify young people with gambling problems.
The study collected data from a sample of 3,867 pupils in Years 7 to 12 (or Years S1 to S5 in Scotland) attending academies, maintained and independent schools in England, Scotland, and Wales. Fieldwork took place between 12 January 2026 and 12 June 2026. The survey asked about involvement with gambling in the past 7 days, 4 weeks and 12 months, with this report focusing on the past 12 months.
The research was conducted in schools, with pupils completing online self-completion surveys during class time. As the survey relies on young people's self-reported responses, findings should be interpreted in light of the strengths and limitations associated with self-reported behavioural data, which are discussed in the survey strengths and limitations section.
Further details of the methodology, sampling and weighting processes, quality assurance procedures, and sample profile are included in the Appendices.
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Last updated: 12 November 2026
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