The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has released its 2023 Young People and Gambling Report - an annual study that helps understand children’s and young people’s exposure to, and involvement in, all types of gambling. Results indicate an overall decrease in gambling among youngsters.
The research was conducted in schools, with pupils completing online self-completion surveys in class. The study collected data from a sample of 3,453 11 to 16-year-olds as in previous years and, for the first time 17 year olds, attending academies, maintained and independent schools in England, Scotland, and Wales.
These are the key findings:
The Commission requires gambling operators to have strong protections in place to prevent children from accessing products illegally. This means the most common types of gambling activity that young people spent their own money on were legal or did not feature age-restricted products:
The Commission notes that protecting children and young people from harm remains its priority and that it is working hard to implement relevant proposals by the Government in its Gambling Act Review White Paper.
This includes examining strengthening age verification in premises by considering responses to proposals to:
As part of the White Paper, the Commission is also examining staff supervision in some premises. The Commission says that it will explore through consultation the evidence around premises where there is not normally direct staff supervision (such as Adult Gaming Centres in service stations) and consider whether existing requirements effectively prevent underage gambling.