A significant reduction in the exposure of young people to gambling advertising in the United Kingdom has been reported by the Gambling Commission in their latest Young People and Gambling survey. Released for the year 2023, the survey presents a noteworthy 10-percentage-point decline in the amount of gambling-related advertisements and promotions seen or heard by 11- to 17-year-olds over the previous 12 months. In specific numbers, just 55% and 53% of young people encountered offline and online gambling advertisements respectively, a drop from the 66% and 63% recorded in 2022.
The survey’s report, citing these statistics, characterizes the downward trend as “significant.” This welcomed decline is not the only highlight of this annual snapshot; the survey also revealed a decrease in gambling activity amongst young people, with 26% of the surveyed youth having spent their own money on gambling in the preceding 12 months. This figure is five percentage points lower than the 31% observed in the previous year’s survey. Particular emphasis was placed on the types of gambling activities engaged in, with most spending on non age-restricted or legally permitted activities such as arcade gaming machines, which includes penny pushers and claw grab machines – accounting for 19%. Betting between friends or family members and playing card games followed in popularity.
It is interesting to note that for the first time, 17-year-olds were included in the survey cohort. Despite their inclusion—which could have potentially increased overall participation in gambling due to their closer proximity to legal gambling age—the overall involvement in regulated gambling activities requiring age verification remained low. Only 4% of the survey respondents reported spending money on regulated gambling activities, slightly down from the 5% who did so in 2022.
Further delving into the psychological and social drivers of gambling among young participants, the survey unearthed that for the majority who engaged in the activity, the primary incentive was the element of fun it provides. However, less than 20% of these young people agreed that it brought them any feeling of happiness.
The Gambling Commission emphasized the necessity for robust safeguards by operators to refrain from offering gambling products to minors illegally. Current actions and guidelines prioritize legal forms of gambling that do not feature age-restricted products, which represent the bulk of activities that young people spent their own money on.
Subsequent proposals, currently under the spotlight in the Gambling Act Review white paper, suggest the revocation of age verification exemptions in small gambling venues and the potential implementation of mandatory age checks for customers who appear to be under 25 years of age, adjusting from the previous threshold of under 21. The Commission reiterated that the protection of children and young adults from potential harm remains a top concern, with vigorous efforts underway to implement policies and proposals from government revisions to the Gambling Act.
The survey’s data was collected from a considerable sample size of 3,453 young individuals aged 11 to 16, and for the first time, 17-year-old attendees, across diverse educational institutions such as academies and independent schools throughout England, Scotland, and Wales. This research, undertaken from February to July of 2023, was carried out via online self-completion questionnaires that students responded to under the facilitation of their respective classes.
In additional developments, Tim Miller, executive director of research and policy at the GB Gambling Commission, has revealed upcoming consultation plans as a part of the ongoing Gambling Act Review. This subsequent consultation process is set to tackle issues surrounding the social responsibility of bonuses and free bets as integral parts of gambling services.
