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
Types of gaming machine played
Young people who had played arcade gaming machines, fruit machines or slot machines were asked which types of machines they had played. Claw or crane grab machines, such as toy grabbers, were by far the most commonly played, with three-quarters (75%) reporting participation, followed by penny falls or penny pusher machines (69%).
Playing on other types of machines was less popular. Among those who played arcade machines, 17% had played fruit machine-style games where tickets could be exchanged for prizes such as soft toys, while around 1 in 10 (12%) had played quiz game machines. Fewer young people reported playing fruit machine-style games offering small cash prizes (8%). Overall, the findings suggest that young people's engagement with arcade machines is concentrated on games offering entertainment or non-cash rewards, rather than those involving direct cash prizes. See Figure 6.1.
Figure 6.1: Types of gaming machines played within the past 12 months
Figure 6.1 information
GC_FRUITTYPE. Thinking back to the last time you played on ‘Arcade gaming machines’, ‘Fruit or slot machines’, or ‘Other gambling machines’, what sort of machine(s) did you play?
Base: All 11 to 17 year olds answering who have played ‘Arcade gaming machines’ or ‘Fruit and/or slot machines’ 2026 (2,059).
Note: This is a multiple response questions, therefore answers do not sum to 100%.
| Types of gaming machines played within the past 12 months | 2026 (percentage) (this is a multiple response question; therefore, answers do not sum to 100%) |
|---|---|
| Claw or crane grab machines | 75% |
| Penny falls or penny pusher machines | 69% |
| Fruit machine style games where you win tickets to ‘buy’ prizes | 17% |
| Quiz game machines – where you win small cash prizes or tickets to ‘buy’ prizes | 12% |
| Fruit machine style games where you win small cash prizes | 8% |
| Other | 3% |
| Do not know | 7% |
Variations in the types of gaming machines played were notable by gender and age:
- girls were more likely than boys to play claw or crane grab machines (80%, compared with 70%) and fruit machine style games where you win tickets to ‘buy’ prizes (20%, compared with 15%)
- older groups (14 to 17 year olds) were more likely to have played games where you could win cash prizes such as penny falls or penny pusher machines (71%, compared with 66% of 11 to 13 year olds) and fruit machine style games where you win small cash prizes (10%, compared with 5%).
The types of gaming machines played remained largely unchanged between 2025 and 2026, with no statistically significant differences recorded for any category.
Table 6.1: Types of gaming machines played 2025 to 2026
GC_FRUITTYPE. Thinking back to the last time you played on arcade gaming machines, fruit or slot machines, or other gambling machines, what sort of machine(s) did you play?
Base: All participants (answering) who have played arcade gaming machines or fruit or slot machines 2025 (2,208) 2026 (2,059).
| Types of gaming machines played | 2025 (percentage) | 2026 (percentage) | Statistical difference 2026 compared with 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claw or crane grab machines (for example toy grab) | 73% | 75% | No significant difference |
| Penny falls or penny pusher machines (for example 2p machine) | 68% | 69% | No significant difference |
| Fruit machine style games where you win tickets to ‘buy’ prizes (for example soft toys) | 19% | 17% | No significant difference |
| Quiz game machines where you win small cash prizes or tickets to ‘buy’ prizes (for example soft toys) | 12% | 12% | No significant difference |
| Fruit machine style games where you win small cash prizes | 8% | 8% | No significant difference |
| Do not know | 8% | 7% | No significant difference |
Overall experience of playing games and gaming machines Next section
Playing arcade machines in adult-only areas
Last updated: 12 November 2026
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