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
Lottery play
Experience of lotteries and lottery style games
In the past 12 months, 10% of young people played lotteries or lottery-style games at least once, regardless of whether they spent their own money. Nearly all of those who played lottery games had participated in a National Lottery-branded game (10%). National Lottery Scratchcards were the most popular product (8%), while smaller proportions played the National Lottery draw (3%), National Lottery online instant win games (1%) or other lotteries (1%).
Those aged 15 (12%) and 16 (13%), were more likely to have engaged in lottery-style games than young people overall (10%).
Buying a National Lottery draw ticket or scratchcard
All young people who have played the National Lottery, either through a physical ticket or online, or scratchcard, were then asked how they purchased the ticket the last time they played.
Around 4 in 5 (78%) young people that played the National Lottery draw, reported that someone else purchased the ticket for them. In comparison, 11% had purchased the ticket themselves in a shop.
Among those young people who played National Lottery Scratchcards, 94% reported that someone else had purchased the scratchcard for them, compared with 3% who purchased it themselves in a shop.
Figure 6.3: Buying a National Lottery draw ticket or scratchcard within the past 12 months
Figure 6.3 information
GC_HANDED. Thinking about the last time you played National Lottery draw and/or Scratchcard which statement best describes how you purchased and paid for the item?
GC_HANDED2. Thinking about the last time you played National Lottery Scratchcards (not free Scratchcards) which statement best describes how you purchased and paid for the scratchcard?
Base: All 11 to 17 year olds answering who have played National Lottery 2026 (149).
Base: All 11 to 17 year olds answering who have played National Lottery Scratchcards 2026 (371).
| Buying a National Lottery draw ticket or scratchcard within the past 12 months | 2026 (percentage) | |
|---|---|---|
| National Lottery scratchcards | National Lottery draw | |
| I purchased the ticket by myself in a shop | 3% | 11% |
| Someone else purchased the ticket for me in a shop | 94% | 78% |
| The ticket was not purchased in a shop | 3% | 10% |
The way young people accessed National Lottery draw game tickets and scratchcards remained largely unchanged between 2025 and 2026, with no statistically significant differences observed. For both products, only a small minority reported purchasing these products themselves in a shop (11% and 3%, respectively), suggesting that direct retail purchases by young people remain relatively uncommon, while participation most often occurs through adults acting on their behalf.
Table 6.5: Buying a National Lottery draw ticket or scratchcard 2025 to 2026
GC_HANDED1. Thinking about the last time you played National Lottery draw for example Lotto, EuroMillions or Set for Life, either with a physical ticket or playing online which statement best describes how you purchased and paid for the ticket?
GC_HANDED2. Thinking about the last time you played National Lottery Scratchcards (not free Scratchcards) which statement best describes how you purchased and paid for the scratchcard?
Base: All participants (answering) who have played National Lottery draw games 2025 (121), 2026 (149).
Base: All participants (answering) who have played National Lottery Scratchcards 2025 (358), 2026 (371).
| How National Lottery draw game tickets were purchased | 2025 (percentage) | 2026 (percentage) | Statistical difference 2026 compared with 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Someone else purchased the ticket for me, using my money | 79% | 78% | No significant difference |
| I purchased the ticket by myself in a shop | 14% | 11% | No significant difference |
| It was not purchased in a shop | 7% | 10% | No significant difference |
| How National Lottery scratchcards were purchased | 2025 (percentage) | 2026 (percentage) | Statistical difference 2026 compared with 2025 |
| Someone else purchased the scratchcard for me, using my money | 94% | 94% | No significant difference |
| I purchased the scratchcard by myself in a shop | 4% | 3% | No significant difference |
| It was not purchased in a shop | 3% | 3% | No significant difference |
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Gaming
Last updated: 12 November 2026
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