A recent investigation in the United Kingdom reveals that adolescents are encountering a diminished quantity of gambling advertisements.
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission unveiled its 2023 survey concerning children and gambling. The document indicates that a 10% reduction in the number of children aged 11 to 17 years old observed or heard gambling promotions in the preceding year. Fifty-five percent of young individuals encountered advertisements in shops or on television, while 53% encountered promotions online. In 2022, these figures were 66% and 63%.
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission declared this a substantial decline.
The survey, which engaged with over 3,000 young people, discovered that a smaller number of children are participating in gambling. This marks the inaugural inclusion of 17-year-olds in the survey.
The survey uncovered that 26% of children aged 11 to 17 gambled using their own funds in the past year. This represents a 5% decrease compared to 2022, when 31% engaged in gambling.
The majority of young people engage in gambling through lawful means. They typically select games that are permissible for children or do not involve items that are exclusively available to adults.
These activities encompass playing arcade games, such as coin-operated machines or claw machines, which accounted for 19% of the total. Wagering and playing cards with friends or family were the next most popular forms of entertainment.
In addition to arcade machines, which minors can legally participate in, 4% of participants spent their funds on regulated gambling. This represents a decline from 5% in 2022. Approximately 1.5% of respondents were categorized as being at risk of gambling, compared to 2.4% in 2022.
Among young individuals who had gambled with their own funds in the past year, 80% did so because they found it enjoyable. Less than one-fifth agreed that gambling made them feel content.
The UK Gambling Commission stated: “The Commission mandates that gambling operators implement robust safeguards to prevent minors from illegally accessing products. Consequently, the most prevalent gambling activities that young people engage in with their own funds are legal, or products without age restrictions.”
The Gambling Act Review White Paper could have further ramifications. The Gambling Act Review White Paper includes proposals to eliminate the current age verification exemption for minimum gambling establishments. Venues could also be compelled to verify the age of patrons who appear to be under 25, rather than under 21.
The group emphasized: “Safeguarding children and adolescents from danger remains a top priority for the group, and it is actively working to put into practice the pertinent suggestions presented by the administration in its Gambling Act Review White Paper.”
This investigation was carried out in educational institutions, with pupils finishing an online self-completion questionnaire during class time. The study gathered sample data from 3,453 teenagers between the ages of 11 and 16, as in previous years, and for the first time from 17-year-olds, who attended colleges, state-funded schools, and private schools in England, Scotland, and Wales. Data collection occurred between February and July 2023.
In the meantime, Tim Miller, Executive Director of Research and Policy at the UK Gambling Commission, laid out plans for the next round of discussions on the Gambling Act Review White Paper. This round of discussions will encompass bonuses and free wagers – more specifically, making sure they are socially responsible.
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