UKGC Report: Problem Gambling Rate in British Teens Has Reduced

The UK Gambling Commission recently published its annual Young People and Gambling report for 2023, showing that the gambling rates among teenagers in Britain have reduced. This report was based on a survey involving 11 to 16-year-olds, as has always been the case, along with 17-year-olds who were included as part of the survey group for the first time.

Age groups included in the survey comprised teenagers attending academies and maintained and independent schools in England, Scotland, and Wales. The study is based on information from the Ipsos Young People Omnibus annual research, which explores various topics relating to young people, from social media usage and politics to gambling.

School-Aged Adolescents Are Losing Interest in Gambling

A close examination of the report’s prevailing results indicates a gradual positive shift in the habits of 11 to 17-year-old gamblers in Britain. Thus, according to the report, 26% of the 11 to 17-year-olds sampled wagered their funds into gambling, which indicates a significant downward shift from last year’s 31%.

Delving into more granular findings of the report, of the 26% that said they had used their own money to gamble, 19% indicated that they played arcade gaming machines. Meanwhile, 11% disclosed that their form of gambling involved placing bets among their friends and family. Finally, 5% indicated spending money playing cards with friends and family.

Examining the data through regulation lenses, 19% of the school-aged adolescents indicated that they engaged in regulated forms of gambling. This figure is further reduced by 4% when you exclude arcade gaming machines from the definition of regulated gambling. The findings additionally showcased that 4% of youngsters channeled their money towards age-restricted gambling products, which is a positive movement compared to last year’s figures, indicating a 5% drop in the same.

The Number of Problem Gamblers Among Teens Has Reduced

On the problem gambling front, there was also positive news to report, with significant declines noted from what was found in 2022. The survey identified that 0.7% of this age group were problem gamblers, a decrease from the 0.9% recorded in 2022. 1.5% of this sample group were identified as risk gamblers and 23% as non-problem gamblers. The 1.5% at-risk gambling category notably decreased from the 2.4% reported in the last calendar year.

Moving on to the specificity of specific ages, 16-year-olds emerged as the most prevalent gamblers in this category, with a gambling rate of 26.9%. The risk category was shockingly headlined by 12-year-olds who had a risk-gambling percentage of 2.3%. Moreover, in the realm of problem gambling, 13-year-olds took the mantle, with 1.9% of the sampled population showcasing problem gambling tendencies.

A significant finding of the study showed that 30% of the group sampled were influenced by witnessing their family members participate in gambling activity. Of this demographic, 10% reported ensuing arguments related to the gambling of their relatives. That said, 12% reported that gambling had surprisingly helped their situation at home with expenses such as holidays, trips, or club membership being taken care of.

Further insights into the gambling habits amongst British teenagers revealed that television was the primary channel through which the teens accessed gambling ads at 47%. Social media apps came in a close second as a media for gambling ads at 45%. Overall, the study found that more than half of the respondents, specifically 55%, reported that they had seen offline gambling ads. This is a 10% decrease in the same from last year.

Finally, the study took a look into the prevailing reasons why this age group of teenagers engaged in gambling activities. Notably, 80% of young gamblers took part in this activity merely for fun. That said, only 17% of this group reported that gambling made them happy. 29% did not agree that gambling did indeed make them happy, while 28% were unsure whether gambling made them happy or not.

The UKGC Continues to Vouch for Amendments to the Gambling Act

While the Commission noted positive progress concerning the gambling habits of the youth, the Commission continues to push for implementing the proposed changes to the Gambling Act. The proposed amendments’ primary emphasis is on improving the technological process, which plays a significant role in protecting teenagers.

By improving the underlying technology, minors and vulnerable individuals in society will not be exposed to gambling ads on online platforms. Some other notable proposals by the UKGC include the removal of the existing exemption from the gambling age verification test for small business enterprises.

Further, to level up the age verification process, particularly in brick-and-mortar casinos, the Commission proposes requiring licensees to verify the age of individuals who visit these premises who appear to be under 25. The amendments also call for a thorough age verification process from the various lotteries operating in Britain.

The Commission also noted that the notable decreases in gambling rates, specifically among the younger age brackets, is a direct consequence of the policies and measures introduced by the regulator and government. As such, the regulator continues to urge that the white paper recommendations and other proposed amendments be put in place to keep protecting vulnerable communities in Britain.