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
Young people who consider themselves risk-takers
Young people were asked about their attitudes to risk-taking in general. They were asked to consider the extent to which they agreed or disagreed that they were a risk-taker and whether they liked the feeling that comes with taking risks.
Equal proportions agreed and disagreed with the statement ‘I consider myself a risk taker’ (both 29%). A further 30% were unsure suggesting that the young people surveyed were evenly divided between those who identify as risk-takers, those who do not, and those who are uncertain.
Boys were more likely than girls to say they are a risk-taker (37%, compared with 21%). Those aged 14 to 17 were also more likely to say they were risk-takers than those aged 11 to 13 (32%, compared with 26%).
The survey findings indicate that 2 in 5 (38%) young people who spent their own money on gambling in the last 12 months consider themselves a risk-taker, compared with 29% overall. Furthermore, young people who have scored 2 to 3 on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition - Multiple Response Juvenile (DSM-IV-MR-J) screen were more likely to agree that they consider themselves to be a risk-taker than young people overall (65%, compared with 29%, overall).
Young people were more likely to disagree with the statement ‘I like the feeling that comes with taking risks’ than agree (36%, compared with 25%). Over a quarter (27%) are unsure either way. Boys were more likely to agree that they enjoyed the feeling of taking risks than girls (31%, compared with 17%). Young people aged 14 to 17 were also more likely to agree that they enjoy the feeling of taking risks than those aged 11 to 13 (28%, compared with 21%).
The findings also show that young people who scored either 2 or 3 on the DSM-IV-MR-J screen were more likely to agree they like the feeling that comes with taking risks than young people overall (69%, compared with 25%, overall).
Figure 7.2: Those who consider themselves a risk-taker and like the feeling that comes with taking risks within the past 12 months
Figure 7.2 information
GC_RISK: How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? ‘I consider myself a risk-taker.’ ‘I like the feeling that comes with taking risks.’
Base: All participants answering 'I consider myself a risk-taker' 2026 (3,738), 'I like the feeling that comes with taking risks' 2026 (3,734).
| Those who consider themselves a risk-taker and like the feeling that comes with taking risks within the past 12 months | I consider myself a risk taker 2026 (percentage) |
I like the feeling that comes with taking risks 2026 (percentage) |
|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 10% | 9% |
| Agree | 19% | 16% |
| Neither agree or disagree | 30% | 27% |
| Disagree | 21% | 24% |
| Strongly disagree | 8% | 12% |
| Do not know | 11% | 12% |
| Net agree | 29% | 25% |
| Net disagree | 29% | 36% |
Attitudes to risk-taking remain broadly stable. The proportion who considered themselves risk-takers was unchanged, and there was a small decrease in the proportion who reported enjoying the feeling associated with taking risks.
Table 7.5: Attitudes to risk taking 2025 to 2026
GC_RISK: How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? ‘I consider myself a risk-taker.’
Base: All participants answering 'I consider myself a risk-taker' 2025 (3,564), 2026 (3,738).
GC_RISK: How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? ‘I like the feeling that comes with taking risks.’
Base: All participants answering 'I like the feeling that comes with taking risks' 2025 (3,564) 2026 (3,734).
| Those who consider themselves a risk-taker | 2025 (percentage) | 2026 (percentage) | Statistical difference 2026 compared with 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 11% | 10% | No significant difference |
| Agree | 20% | 19% | No significant difference |
| Neither agree or disagree | 35% | 30% | Significant decrease |
| Disagree | 16% | 21% | Significant increase |
| Strongly disagree | 8% | 11% | Significant increase |
| Do not know | 9% | 8% | No significant difference |
| Net agree | 31% | 29% | No significant difference |
| Those who like the feeling that comes with taking risks | 2025 (percentage) | 2026 (percentage) | Statistical difference 2026 compared with 2025 |
| Strongly agree | 11% | 9% | Significant decrease |
| Agree | 18% | 16% | Significant decrease |
| Neither agree or disagree | 27% | 27% | No significant difference |
| Disagree | 21% | 24% | Significant increase |
| Strongly disagree | 13% | 12% | No significant difference |
| Do not know | 10% | 12% | Significant increase |
| Net agree | 29% | 25% | Significant decrease |
Reasons why young people do not gamble
Last updated: 12 November 2026
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