Increased gambling participation among youngsters in UK

As it seems, the plague of children getting into gambling has increased, as research from the Gambling Commission has shown. And along with that, the rate of problematic gambling in these ages. UKGC called the gambling operators to collaborate in order to decrease the disturbing findings of the research. In addition, the latter also shows the influence the parents have on their children’s gambling behaviour. For sure, all the above are the things that should change.

Teenage Gambling in UK is the Worst Indicator

The findings that came out of the research showed that gambling participation in ages 11 to 16 has vastly increased. We should also note that 14% of those kids have spent all of their money on gambling in the past weeks. This rate was 12% just a year before. In addition, it is a bigger rate than the 13% of the children who drank alcohol in the past week. Moreover, even bigger than the 4% who smoked cigarettes and the 2% who had taken drugs.

Moreover, 6% found themselves in the principal forms of gambling since they had a private bet with their friends. 4% of them participated in National Lottery Scratchcards, and 3% placed bets in slot machines. Additionally, another 3% played card games with friends. Regarding the average amount that these kids spent on gambling in the past week, this came up to £16. The most disturbing of all, though, is the fact that over the past 12 months, 39% of the 11 to 16-year-old category spent all their money on gambling. Another interesting finding of the research is that 6% of them have placed bets online using a parent’s account. Furthermore, 31% have opened loot boxes in a computer game or have fallen for skins gambling.

Last but not least, 1.7% of the category of 11-16 years old are classified as problem gamblers.  And also, a rate of 2.2% is at risk.