Ygam Reports 1.2 Million Youth Reached in Annual Gambling Harm Prevention Update

Ygam reached an estimated 1.2 million children and young people over the past year. This lifts the UK charity’s cumulative total to more than 7 million individuals since 2020, per its 2025-2026 Impact Report as reported by GamblingNews.

The numbers arrive as youth gambling participation widens. Ygam focuses on education and early intervention to limit harm before patterns set in.

Training Delivers Confidence and Curriculum Changes

Ygam trained more than 11,000 professionals who work with children and young people. That cohort included about 3,700 teachers and youth workers plus health and social care staff.

92% of delegates said they felt more confident identifying and responding to signs of gambling harm. 95% of teachers and youth workers reported improved ability to recognize those signs.

Emily Tofield, Ygam chief executive officer, stated: “Our ongoing commitment to research, evidence and evaluation means we continually assess not only how many people we reach, but what difference our work makes.”

Follow-up data shows 67% of surveyed teachers incorporated gambling-related education into their curriculum within a year. 69% of health and social care professionals improved procedures, with the figure rising to 75% among those working directly with children.

Persistent Gaps in Parental Reach and Emerging Risks

Parental attitudes do not match delivery. 91% of parents supported gambling harm lessons in schools, yet only 40% reported that their children had received them. Among parents who joined the program, 93% said they were better able to recognize signs of harm.

Ygam’s Gaming and Esports program, launched in 2025, has reached over 50,000 youths. The charity works with over 20 UK universities on research and maintains an Alumni network of more than 14,000 members. Tofield stated: “We have brought together the largest and most established community dedicated to preventing gaming and gambling harms among children and young people.”

Closing the Implementation Gap

The gap between stated parental support and actual classroom exposure reveals a clear execution shortfall. Regulators and operators will need to track whether expanded training converts into uniform delivery across schools and care settings. Targeted collaboration on the esports stream and university research could tighten that link before regulatory pressure increases.

Reporting: GamblingNews

Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.