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
-
- 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
Being stopped from gambling for being too young
All young people, regardless of gambling experience, were asked whether they had ever been stopped from gambling because they were too young. Excluding those young people who noted they had never tried to gamble, 17% overall reported having been stopped from gambling because they were too young.
Boys were more likely than girls to report having been stopped from gambling because they were too young (22%, compared with 10%). This pattern was evident both for gambling online (12% of boys, compared with 4% of girls) and for gambling in a premises such as a shop, betting shop or arcade (13%, compared with 7%).
Responses were broadly consistent by age. However, 14 to 17 year olds were more likely than 11 to 13 year olds to report that they had never been stopped from gambling (47%, compared with 38%). This may reflect the fact that older young people may be less likely to have their gambling activity challenged.
Young people who considered themselves to be risk-takers were more likely to report having been stopped from gambling because they were too young (24%, compared with 14% of those who are not risk-takers). This difference was particularly evident for online gambling, where 14% of risk-takers reported having been stopped, compared with 4% of those who did not consider themselves to be risk-taker.
Figure 1.5: Being stopped from gambling for money due to being too young within the past 12 months
Figure 1.5 information
GC_STOPPED. Thinking about gambling for money, have you ever been stopped from gambling because you were too young?
Base: All 11 to 17 year olds answering 2026 (1,093).
| Being stopped from gambling due to being too young | 2026 (percentage) |
|---|---|
| Yes | 17% |
| No, I have never been stopped | 44% |
| Do not know | 39% |
The proportion of young people that had been stopped from gambling for money because they were too young increased from 13% in 2025 to 17% in 2026. However, as there was no significant change in the proportion reporting that they had never been stopped, this finding should be interpreted with caution. While it may suggest some increase in age-related enforcement or intervention, it does not indicate a clear shift in experiences.
Table 1.5: Being stopped from gambling for money due to being too young 2025 to 2026
GC_STOPPED. Thinking about gambling for money, have you ever been stopped from gambling because you were too young?
Base: All answering who did not say they had never tried to gamble 2025 (1,098), 2026 (1,093).
| Being stopped from gambling due to being too young, 2025 and 2026 | 2025 (percentage) | 2026 (percentage) | Statistical difference 2026 compared with 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 13% | 17% | Significant increase |
| No, I have never been stopped | 48% | 44% | No significant difference |
| Do not know | 39% | 39% | No significant difference |
Who young people were with when they experienced gambling Next section
Gambling in the context of young people’s spare time activities
Last updated: 12 November 2026
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