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
Playing arcade machines in adult-only areas
Young people who had played arcade gaming machines were asked if they had ever done so in an adult-only area, for example an adult (18 years old and above) only section of an amusement arcade, bowling alley, holiday park or pub.
Around 1 in 14 young people (7%) who had experience of arcade gaming machines reported having played a machine located within an adult-only area. In contrast, the vast majority (85%) stated that they had not done so, while a further 8% were unsure.
Experience of playing arcade gaming machines in adult-only areas varied across different groups of young people. Those who reported seeing family members gamble were almost 3 times as likely to have played a machine in an adult-only area compared with those who did not see family members gamble (11% and 4%, respectively). Similarly, self-identified risk takers were more likely to report having played in an adult-only area than those who did not consider themselves risk takers (12% compared with 3%).
Compared with 2025, the proportion of young people with experience of arcade gaming machines who reported playing within an adult-only area has declined. However, this decrease was not accompanied by a statistically significant increase in the proportion reporting that they had not played in an adult-only area, suggesting that overall patterns of exposure remain broadly stable. See Table 6.2 for further details.
Table 6.2: Playing arcade machines in an adults-only area 2025 to 2026
GC_FRUITWHERE. As far as you know, have you ever played on any of these machines in an adults-only area or somewhere with a sign or sticker saying 18 years old and above? For example, an adult only section of an amusement arcade or holiday park.
Base: All participants (answering) who have played arcade gaming machines or fruit or slot machines and know machine played 2025 (1,985), 2026 (1,849).
| Playing arcade gaming machines in an adults-only area | 2025 (percentage) | 2026 (percentage) | Statistical difference 2026 compared with 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 9% | 7% | Significant decrease |
| No | 83% | 85% | No significant difference |
| Do not know | 8% | 8% | No significant difference |
Types of gaming machine played Next section
Who young people were with in an adult-only area
Last updated: 12 November 2026
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