UK Gambling Commission Reports Declining Under-18 Participation in Age-Restricted Gambling
Gambling Commission data shows 74% of 11-17 year olds never gambled, up from 69.6%. Youth spending on gambling dropped to 26% from 31%, mostly outside regulated products. Negative consequences fell to 0.9%, yet 5% still accessed age-restricted options.
SCCG Take — The results validate operator compliance investments while flagging the 5% access rate as a focal point for tighter controls amid persistent regulatory pressure.
The UK Gambling Commission’s latest annual study on children and young people’s participation in gambling shows further declines in under-18 activity. British gambling companies’ compliance teams have evidence that age verification measures are limiting access to regulated products.
74% of 11-17 year olds reported never having gambled, an increase from 69.6% the prior year. Of those who did gamble, 26% spent their own money in the past year, down from 31% in 2022. The majority of this activity avoided age-restricted categories such as bookmakers and casinos.
Positive Trends in Youth Protection Measures
Negative consequences linked to gambling fell from 1.2% in 2025 to 0.9%. The Commission found that the most common activities for this age group were arcade gaming machines such as penny pushers and claw grab machines at 19%, bets between family and friends for money at 11%, and card games between friends and family at 5%. The majority of any illegal market engagement remains with men aged in their 20s to 40s.
Ben Haden, 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.”
Room for Improvement Amid Industry Scrutiny
5% of the 3,867 English and Welsh school children surveyed reported spending money on age-restricted products. 45% of young people experienced gambling in some form, down from 50% in 2022, including potential exposure through marketing. The study arrives during sustained scrutiny of the British betting sector from campaigners, government and media, according to reporting by SBC News.
The data confirms that regulated operators are largely meeting age verification standards. The remaining access points, whether through parental identification, lax checks or other means, represent specific areas where compliance can be tightened without broader operational overhauls.
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