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
Impact on wellbeing
Overall, just under 1 in 20 young people who had seen family members they live with gamble, say this has made them feel sad (3%) or worried (4%) at least once in the past 12 months.
Figure 5.3: The impact of family members’ gambling on young people’s emotions within the past 12 months
Figure 5.3 information
GC_NEWFELTBADFAMSAD, GC_NEWFELTBADFAMWOR. In the past 12 months how often, if at all, would you say that gambling among your family members and/or people you live with has made you feel...
Base: All 11 to 17 year olds answering who have seen family members live with gamble 'Worried' 2026 (1,260), 'Sad' 2026 (1,259).
| The impact of family members’ gambling on young people’s emotions | 2026 (percentage) | |
|---|---|---|
| Worried | Sad | |
| Never | 86% | 88% |
| Rarely | 7% | 5% |
| Sometimes | 2% | 2% |
| Often | 1% | 1% |
| All the time | 1% | 1% |
| Do not know | 3% | 3% |
| Sometimes, often and all the time | 4% | 3% |
Young people reporting that gambling among family members or people they lived with had made them feel sad or worried remained broadly similar between 2025 and 2026. In 2026, 9% reported feeling sad and 11% reported feeling worried at least once in the past 12 months. Neither measure changed significantly compared with 2025.
Table 5.3: The impact of family members’ gambling on young people’s emotions 2025 to 2026
GC_NEWFELTBADFAMSAD. In the past 12 months how often, if at all, would you say that gambling among your family members and or people you live with has made you feel... sad, worried.
Base: All participants who have seen family members live with gamble, Sad: 2025 (996), 2026 (1,259); Worried: 2025 (999), 2026 (1,260).
| The impact of family members’ gambling on young people feeling sad | 2025 (percentage) | 2026 (percentage) | Statistical difference 2026 compared with 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Never | 91% | 88% | Significant decrease |
| Rarely | 3% | 5% | Significant increase |
| Sometimes | 2% | 2% | No significant difference |
| Often | 1% | 1% | No significant difference |
| All the time | 2% | 1% | No significant difference |
| Sometimes, often and all the time | 4% | 3% | No significant difference |
| The impact of family members’ gambling on young people feeling worried | 2025 (percentage) | 2026 (percentage) | Statistical difference 2026 compared with 2025 |
| Never | 88% | 86% | No significant difference |
| Rarely | 4% | 7% | Significant increase |
| Sometimes | 3% | 2% | No significant difference |
| Often | 1% | 1% | No significant difference |
| All the time | 2% | 1% | No significant difference |
| Sometimes, often and all the time | 6% | 4% | Significant decrease |
Impact on sleep Next section
Impact on school attendance and relationships
Last updated: 12 November 2026
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