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Children and young people's gambling: Research review

Author: G. Valentine Published: June 2016

Summary

This report by Professor Gill Valentine for the Responsible Gambling Trust reviews research on children and young people's gambling behaviours, prevalence, motivations, and associated harms.

Topics covered

  • prevalence and patterns of youth gambling
  • risk factors and impacts of problem gambling
  • regulatory approaches and age restrictions
  • prevention and treatment programmes

Key findings

Research shows 3 to 5% of young people are problem gamblers, with rates higher for online gambling. Family influences and early exposure are risk factors and prevention efforts are limited.

More research is needed on impacts of new technologies and effectiveness of interventions. A public health approach focusing on education and harm reduction is recommended.

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