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UK Gambling Commission addresses youth gambling statistics in 2025
The UK Gambling Commission has published its 2025 Young People and Gambling Report. This is an annual study which focuses on understanding the exposure and involvement of young individuals in all types of gambling. This research was conducted in different schools around the UK, involving participants in a specific age bracket. A total of 3,666 people completed an online survey which provided the Commission with the final results.
Safeguarding gambling amongst young people
The results of this study showed that youngsters spent their time enjoying low-stakes or recreational gambling activities, such as arcade games and bets between friends and family. However, the Commission recognises the importance of preventing youngsters from having access to illegal gambling activities, which could place them in uncomfortable or risky situations.
In order to do so, the Commission is working on new rules and plans aimed at safeguarding young individuals and their involvement in gambling activities:
- All gambling land-based licensees must undertake age-verification test purchasing
- Staff operators are required to check the age of any customer who appears to be under 25 years old
The UK Commission stated that the protection of youngsters remains a constant priority and these actions can help both individuals and entities involved in this industry.
Role and involvement of other countries
This is a matter that extends beyond the UK and its Gambling Commission. The safeguarding of youths and gambling activities is a major concern for other countries too.
There are different ways and strategies to tackle this issue. People need to hear about it and understand how to handle such situations. The gambling industry continues to expand rapidly. Losing interest in prevention and protection can be risky. For this reason, different entities are organising events to discuss how this matter can be controlled and addressed.
MEP Dr Peter Agius in exclusive comments with Game Lounge said that it is significant to see EGBA taking an active role in such a sensitive and important area to promote safety, trust, and transparency within the industry. “We need to work smart to push for true European free movement for online gaming. We organised the first event of its kind in the European Parliament, focusing on how European rules can protect users online, in this case measures to prohibit online gambling by minors and other vulnerable users,” Dr Agius commented.
The event featured speakers from different institutions that included The European Commission St George’s, University of London and the Belgian Gaming Commission.
These events and panels provide a valuable opportunity to understand and explore the European gambling framework and the emerging obstacles within it. The relationship between youths and gambling remains a fundamental issue, addressed by building regulatory safeguards and prevention strategies.
