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
Speaking to someone about gambling problems
Just over two-thirds (68%) of young people agreed that someone had spoken to them about the potential problems that gambling can lead to, 35% of whom strongly agreed. In contrast, 9% disagreed, highlighting that a minority of young people may not have been exposed to conversations about gambling risks.
There was no variation by gender in whether young people reported that people had spoken to them about the potential problems that gambling can lead to. However, the likelihood of having these conversations increased with age. Young people aged 14 to 17 were more likely than those aged 11 to 13 to agree that people had spoken to them about these issues (72%, compared with 64%). This pattern was particularly evident among 16 year olds, who were more likely report having had these conversations (74%, compared with 68% overall).
Table 7.2: Speaking to someone about gambling within past 12 months
GC_ATTSPOKEN. Thinking about gambling for money, how strongly do you agree or disagree with the statement below?
Base: All participants (answering) 'People have spoken to me about the potential problems that gambling can lead to' 2026 (3,732).
| People have spoken to me about the potential problems that gambling can lead to | 2026 (percentage) |
|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 35% |
| Agree | 33% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 11% |
| Disagree | 7% |
| Strongly disagree | 2% |
| Do not know | 11% |
Feeling informed about gambling Next section
Feeling informed about gambling: 2025 to 2026
Last updated: 12 November 2026
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