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Gambling Harms and Young People in Great Britain: A State of the Nation Report

Author: GambleAware (Lauren Hunter, Maia O'Young Vlies, Steven Okonkwo) Published: December 2025
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Summary

This State of the Nation report brings together evidence from both GambleAware funded studies as well as relevant research from other sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the evidence on gambling related harms among children and young people (CYP) in Great Britain. 

Topics covered

  • Rates and drivers of gambling harm among CYP
  • CYPs perceptions of gambling
  • Motivations to gamble
  • Influence of marketing and gaps in regulation
  • Inequalities among CYP
  • Principles for effective practice

Key findings

  • Gambling is highly normalised in young people’s lives through family, peers, gaming, and online environments.
  • Young people who gamble face disproportionately high levels of harm, with much higher rates of problem gambling than older adults.
  • Online and influencer-driven gambling marketing is widespread, making gambling appear harmless and easy to win.
  • Certain groups face greater harm, including CYP in deprived areas, minority ethnic communities, neurodivergent CYP, and those with mental health challenges.
  • Many CYP do not recognise gambling harms and struggle to access support due to stigma, low awareness, and adult-focused services.

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