The UK Gambling Commission has reported a decline in gambling participation among children aged 11 to 17 in 2026, with fewer young people spending their own money on gambling and accessing age-restricted products. However, widespread exposure to gambling advertising and concerns about the normalisation of gambling among minors remain areas of concern.
The regulator’s annual Young People and Gambling 2026 report, based on responses from 3,867 pupils across England, Scotland and Wales, found that 26% of respondents had spent their own money on gambling during the previous 12 months. This represented a decrease from 30% in 2025 and the 50% recorded in the inaugural 2022 survey.
The findings also showed that 74% of respondents had never gambled, a statistically significant increase from 69.6% in the previous year’s survey. Participation in age-restricted gambling products also declined, with 5% of children reporting that they had spent their own money on these activities.
The research forms part of the Commission’s annual assessment of how children encounter gambling, including through products that are legally available to their age group and those subject to minimum-age requirements. The regulator uses the findings to inform its work on protecting children and vulnerable young people from gambling-related harm.
Ben Haden, the Commission’s Director of Research and Statistics, said: “The Commission’s focus is on ensuring that children and young people are not able to spend money on age-restricted gambling products, with an appreciation of the wider context. This is an important survey that provides one perspective on that question as we seek to protect children and vulnerable young people.”
Age-Restricted Gambling and Advertising Exposure
Arcade gaming machines remained the most frequently reported gambling-related activity among children, with 19% of respondents saying they had used machines such as penny pushers or claw grab machines during the previous year. These activities are legal for the age group.
Other forms of participation included placing bets with friends or family, reported by 11% of respondents, and playing cards for money, which accounted for 5%.
Among age-restricted activities, fruit or slot machines were the most commonly reported, with 3% of children saying they had played them. National Lottery scratchcards and draws, sports betting through mobile devices and online casino games each attracted 1% of respondents.
The Commission’s data also showed a reduction in the overall proportion of children participating in age-restricted gambling, from 18% in 2025 to 5% in 2026.
Despite the lower participation figures, exposure to gambling promotions remained widespread. Some 89% of children recalled encountering gambling advertisements or promotions during the previous 12 months.
Social media was the most frequently reported source, with 55% of respondents recalling gambling-related advertising on these platforms. Live streaming and video-sharing services followed at 53%, while television accounted for 52%. A further 51% reported seeing gambling promotions within other applications.
The influence of social media extended beyond conventional advertising. Approximately 15% of respondents followed gambling-related content, and 38% of those children said influencers, content creators or streamers they followed had promoted gambling-related material.
Exposure within the home was also highlighted. Some 35% of young people said they had seen a family member they lived with gambling. Among children who had personally participated in gambling, that figure increased to 46%.
The relationship between gambling and video gaming featured prominently in the research. Overall, 82% of respondents knew about at least one type of in-game item activity, and 84% of this group had engaged with at least one. Across the entire sample, 22% had paid to open a virtual loot box or surprise box.
The Commission also examined awareness of gambling-related risks. While 81% of respondents considered themselves well informed about the potential dangers, 68% said someone had spoken to them about gambling-related problems.
The survey found no statistically significant change in the proportion of children reporting negative consequences from gambling. These included missing school, lying to friends or relatives and using money intended for meals to gamble. The figure stood at 0.9% in 2026, compared with 1.2% in 2025.
Commission Faces Questions Over Survey Methodology
The publication of the latest findings followed questions about the reliability of the Commission’s annual research.
Industry commentator Dan Waugh previously examined the 2025 survey and questioned some of the reported figures. His analysis highlighted estimates suggesting that more than 32,000 schoolchildren had played games inside a casino during the preceding 12 months. The same data indicated that more than 182,000 had placed bets or used gaming machines inside licensed betting offices.
Waugh also raised concerns about the survey’s methodology, particularly the use of self-reported questionnaires completed by pupils in classrooms alongside their peers. He argued that the setting could influence responses and potentially produce inaccurate estimates.
The 2026 research followed the same general approach, with pupils completing online questionnaires during class time at academies, maintained schools and independent schools in England, Scotland and Wales.
The Commission acknowledged that its findings should be understood within the limitations of survey-based research. Respondents’ answers provide an indication of their reported experiences and activities rather than independently verified records of gambling participation.
The regulator’s wider research program also includes an examination of illegal gambling among adults in Britain, with new figures published on November 5 through its Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB).
According to the latest estimates, 0.6% of the overall population had used illegal gambling websites during the four weeks preceding the survey. Another 0.4% reported using such platforms during the previous 12 months but not in the most recent four-week period. The Commission’s figures indicated that 94.4% of the population showed no evidence of engagement with illegal gambling websites.
The proportions were higher among people who had gambled online during the previous year. Within this group, 2.5% had accessed illegal websites in the preceding four weeks, while another 1.5% had used them earlier in the 12-month period.
The data identified differences between demographic groups. Men were more likely than women to engage with illegal gambling websites, while 18- to 24-year-olds recorded higher participation across the full 12-month period. Among those aged 25 to 34, more activity was concentrated within the most recent four weeks.
Taken together, the Commission’s latest research highlights two areas requiring continued attention: children’s exposure to gambling-related activities and the risks faced by adults using illegal online operators. While the underage participation figures have declined substantially since 2022, advertising exposure and the connection between gaming and gambling remain concerns for the regulator and organisations working to prevent gambling-related harm.