UK Gambling Commission reports 74% of youths have never gambled
The Young People and Gambling Report 2026 shows that only 5 per cent of 11-to-17-year-olds spent their own money on age-restricted gambling products over the past year.
Key takeaways
- Released on November 12, 2026, the Young People and Gambling Report 2026 surveyed 3,867 pupils aged 11 to 17 across England, Scotland and Wales.
- Exactly 74 per cent of respondents reported having never gambled, marking a statistically significant rise from 69.6 per cent the previous year.
- While 26 per cent spent their own money on gambling over the past 12 months, just 5 per cent spent their own funds on age-restricted gambling products.
- Arcade machines such as penny pushers and claw grabs were the most common activity at 19 per cent, followed by private wagers with friends or family at 11 per cent.
- Adverse effects from gambling remained statistically unchanged at 0.9 per cent, compared with 1.2 per cent the previous year.
TL;DR: The UK Gambling Commission’s Young People and Gambling Report 2026 reveals a notable decline in youth gambling involvement across Great Britain, with 74 per cent of 11-to-17-year-olds stating they have never gambled—up from 69.6 per cent the previous year. Published on November 12, 2026, and based on classroom surveys of 3,867 pupils in England, Scotland and Wales, the findings show that the vast majority of youth spending goes towards legal or unregulated formats such as arcade machines rather than age-restricted products. The data reinforces a broader four-year downward trend in youth engagement while guiding the regulator’s safeguarding strategies and oversight of underage protections.
UK: The British Gambling Commission has published the findings of its annual investigation into youth exposure to and participation in gambling across Great Britain. Released on November 12, 2026, the Young People and Gambling Report 2026 draws on responses from 3,867 pupils aged 11 to 17 who completed online questionnaires during class time across academies, maintained schools, and independent schools in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Designed to inform regulatory policy and broader safeguarding strategies for vulnerable youths, the study examines how teenagers interact with both legal and age-restricted betting products. Overall, the latest data points to a notable decline in youth gambling involvement. Nearly three-quarters of respondents – 74 per cent – reported that they had never gambled, representing a statistically significant rise from the 69.6 per cent recorded the previous year.
While 26 per cent of 11-to-17-year-olds stated they had spent their own money on gambling over the past 12 months, the vast majority of that activity involved legal formats and not age-restricted offerings. Only 5 per cent of those surveyed admitted to spending their own money on age-restricted gambling products. Meanwhile, the share of young people experiencing adverse effects from gambling, such as truancy, deceiving family or friends, or spending lunch money on bets, remained statistically unchanged at 0.9 per cent, compared with 1.2 per cent the year before.
Under existing regulations, licensed operators must enforce strict safeguards to block underage access to bookmakers and online casinos. However, several betting-style activities remain accessible to under-18s. Arcade machines such as penny pushers and claw grabs proved the most popular, attracting 19 per cent of respondents, followed by private wagers with friends or relatives at 11 per cent, and playing cards for money within social circles at 5 per cent.
Ben Haden, Director of Research and Statistics at the Gambling Commission, highlighted the regulator’s priorities alongside the release. “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.”
Longer-term comparisons between 2022 and 2026 reinforce a downward trajectory in youth engagement, despite minor fluctuations in intervening years. Over that four-year span, the proportion of 11-to-17-year-olds with any gambling experience in the preceding 12 months dropped from 50 per cent to 45 per cent, while those using their own funds fell from 31 per cent to 26 per cent.
Alongside participation rates, the 2026 study examines young people’s encounters with gambling marketing, particularly across social media, and the crossover between video gaming and betting mechanics. Because the data relies on self-reported classroom surveys, the Commission notes that the figures represent estimates of reported behaviour rather than independently verified activity.
FAQs
What percentage of young people in Great Britain have never gambled?According to the Gambling Commission’s Young People and Gambling Report 2026, 74 per cent of pupils aged 11 to 17 reported that they had never gambled. This represents a statistically significant increase from the 69.6 per cent recorded in the previous year’s survey.
How many under-18s spend money on age-restricted gambling products?Only 5 per cent of 11-to-17-year-olds surveyed reported spending their own money on age-restricted gambling products over the past 12 months. While 26 per cent spent their own money on gambling overall, most of this activity involved legal or unregulated formats.
What are the most common gambling activities among 11-to-17-year-olds? Legal and informal activities accessible to under-18s are the most popular. Arcade machines, such as penny pushers and claw grabs, attracted 19 per cent of respondents, followed by private wagers with friends or relatives at 11 per cent, and playing cards for money within social circles at 5 per cent.
How has youth gambling participation changed between 2022 and 2026? Long-term comparisons between 2022 and 2026 show a downward trajectory in youth gambling engagement despite minor fluctuations. Over that four-year period, the share of 11-to-17-year-olds with any gambling experience in the preceding 12 months fell from 50 per cent to 45 per cent, while those using their own money dropped from 31 per cent to 26 per cent.
