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
Feeling informed about gambling: 2025 to 2026
Overall, findings were largely unchanged from 2025. While there was a small but statistically significant decrease in the proportion of young people who felt well informed about the risks of gambling (81% compared with 83%), levels of agreement remained high. Reports of having spoken to someone about the potential problems associated with gambling were stable, with 68% agreeing in both years.
Table 7.3 Feeling informed about gambling 2025 to 2026
GC_ATTINF and GC_ATTSPOKEN. Thinking about gambling for money, how strongly do you agree or disagree with the statements below?
Base: All participants (answering) 'I feel well informed about the risks of gambling' 2025 (3,552) 2026 (3,737).
Base: All participants (answering) 'People have spoken to me about the potential problems that gambling can lead to' 2025 (3,539) 2026 (3,732).
| I feel well informed about the risks of gambling | 2025 (percentage) | 2026 (percentage) | Statistical difference 2026 compared with 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 51% | 47% | Significant decrease |
| Agree | 32% | 34% | No significant difference |
| Neither agree or disagree | 5% | 7% | Significant increase |
| Disagree | 3% | 2% | Significant decrease |
| Strongly disagree | 1% | 2% | Significant increase |
| Do not know | 8% | 8% | No significant difference |
| Net agree | 83% | 81% | Significant decrease |
| People have spoken to me about the potential problems that gambling can lead to | 2025 (percentage) | 2026 (percentage) | Statistical difference 2026 compared with 2025 |
| Strongly agree | 36% | 35% | No significant difference |
| Agree | 32% | 33% | No significant difference |
| Neither agree or disagree | 10% | 11% | No significant difference |
| Disagree | 8% | 7% | No significant difference |
| Strongly disagree | 3% | 2% | Significant decrease |
| Do not know | 12% | 11% | No significant difference |
| Net agree | 68% | 68% | No significant difference |
Speaking to someone about gambling problems Next section
Reasons why young people do not gamble
Last updated: 12 November 2026
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