According to a UKGC report, there’s a rise in 11-to 17-year-olds gambling on machines with no age restrictions & those with 18+ restrictions. (Image by stockgiu on Vecteezy)
According to the UKGC 27% of those ages between 11 and 17 have gambled using their own money. However, these machines are generally Category D arcade games with no age restrictions.
It seems that problem gambling surveys and reports are similar to the weather. They blow hot and cold with contradictory information from one to the next.
We have reports saying problem gambling is under control, mainly from the NHS and the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), showing that 0.3% to 0.4% of the gambling population in the country has issues with gambling.
Then we get a fresh report with a large percentage attached saying gambling is out of control. Although, on this occasion, the report covers those not yet old enough to gamble.
The latest problem gambling survey says that youths from 11 to 17 are gambling more heavily. This came via a survey that sampled a number of youths.
If you are not from the UK, then you are probably wondering how under-18s are able to gamble at all. However, some machines have no age restriction. The UK Gambling Commission classes these machines as Category D.
For example, coin pushes where you place 1 penny or 2 pence in the machine, and if you get your timing right and land the coin in the right place, it has the potential to push multiple coins over an edge into an external pot on the outside of the machine. Winners can then collect their money.
Other machines that are in the Category D machine include claw grabbing machines. You can win a teddy or a toy.
A Review of The Gaming/Gambling Stats
The survey sampled 3,869 students in total, all aged between 11 and 17.
One of the key stats highlighted is that only 27% used their own money, which means 73% probably used money given to them by family or friends.
Of the 27%, it is not clear how many of these students have a job such as paper round, where you can be 13 or over, or those who work in a fast-food chain where the age to work in such an establishment is 16. Yet, I am sure the UKGC has those stats.
20% of the respondents play on category D machines with no age limits. This is a rise from 4% when the same survey took place in 2023 to 6% in 2024.
The worrying stat is that 21% of respondents said they played on regulated machines, which to me means those with an age limit of 18+, such as video slots.
The UKGV concluded that there is a 1.5% problem gambling issue within the sample group, increasing 4% year-over-year. On top of this, 1.9% are at risk of developing problem gambling issues in the future. This is likely because those who overspent are up from 2% in 2023 to 4% in 2024.
I’ll discount lying about gambling because I am not fully sold on these stats anyway because many of the children probably lied in the survey anyway to look cool. However, taking money for gambling is up to 11% from 6%, which is kids just taking money from parents or others without asking.
More youths are also engaging in gambling activities, be it regulated gambling machines or Category D machines. The stats show that 52% have tried these machines versus 44% in 2023’s survey.
As issues across gambling, alcohol abuse, vaping, smoking and drugs, gambling tops them all at 44%, versus 27%, 15%, 8% and 7%, respectively.
Gambling Ads Stats Review
We know gambling ads are an issue and need a watershed. The issues we see now in the UK are gambling ads on TV, mobile apps, and social media. I think the figures of 54%, 52%, and 46% for all of these respectively is low.
Every time I am in the UK, I see gambling ads across all media. As for 17% following gambling companies, that’s less than the 20% of the nation that gambles. You could translate this as fewer youth are likely to gamble in the future, but admittedly, that’s me being far fetched.
Key Statistics From the UKGC Report
| Category | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Survey Sample | 3,869 students (ages 11-17) |
| Youth gambling participation (past year) | 27% used own money; 21% spent on regulated activities |
| Category D machines participation | 20% played (no age restrictions) |
| Regulated gambling (excluding Cat D) | 6% (up from 4% in 2023) |
| Problem gambling rate | 1.5% (up from 0.8% in 2023) |
| At-risk youth gambling rate | 1.9% |
| No gambling-related issues | 23% |
| Gambling engagement (any form) | 52% have tried; 44% gambled in the past year |
| Gambling behaviors (planning) | 7% (up from 3% in 2023) |
| Overspending on gambling | 4% (up from 2% in 2023) |
| Lying about gambling | 3% (up from 1% in 2023) |
| Taking money for gambling | 11% (up from 6% in 2023) |
| Youth gambling vs. other behaviors | Gambling: 44%, Alcohol: 37%, Vaping: 15%, Smoking: 8%, Drugs: 7% |
| Exposure to online gambling ads | 62% (up from last year) |
| Exposure to offline gambling ads | 64% (up from last year) |
| Gambling ads seen on TV | 54% |
| Gambling ads seen on mobile apps | 52% |
| Social media gambling ads exposure | 46% |
| Following gambling companies online | 17% |
| Regulatory changes | Age verification threshold increased to 25 (was 21) |
It’s great the UKGC keep an eye on these stats, but I don’t feel you can trust the answers of youths between 11 and 17. I also feel that these stats have risen because 2024 has seen a strong recovery from the pandemic, and so more people are taking their kids out to beach side location where there are many Category D machines.
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