The UK Gambling Commission, the main regulating body in the country has introduced its “Young People and Gambling Survey for 2023,” an extensive exploration into the gambling habits and encounters of people ranging from 11 to 17 years old.
The significance of such statistics lies in their role in evaluating the effectiveness of today’s measures aimed at preventing youth gambling and aiding legislators in making well-informed decisions.
In comparison to earlier reports, this most recent study covers a wider age range, which now includes pupils from private schools and 17-year-olds in year 12. The survey, which involved 3,453 online participants from England, Scotland, and Wales, offers a thorough picture of the range of gaming activities that young people engage in.
The UKGC Research & Statistics Team commented on the development, stating:
It is the inaugural time, we have gathered data from 17-year-olds and students from schools, enriching our understanding of gambling behavior among young people.
While the overall results were in line with last year’s survey, the encouraging aspect was a 5% decrease in overall gambling participation, suggesting a positive impact of existing measures for preventing youth gambling. Eliminating the less consequential arcade game category, only 4% engaged in controlled gambling, potentially signaling the initiation of a positive trend.
According to the survey, children aged 11 to 17 are exposed to 10% less gaming marketing online and offline. Despite this drop, 15% of the respondents continued to follow gambling companies on social media, with the three main channels being YouTube (10%), TikTok (9%), and Instagram (7%). The UK Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) should take note of these findings as it works to restrict its exposure to minors.
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