Young people (aged 18 – 25) and minors (under 18 years) are exposed to gambling more than ever. Increased gambling promotion on TV, radio and social media can shape how they think about gambling. They can also make young people more likely to place bets before they understand the risks.
How young people and minors gamble
Many young people engage with gambling in different ways, including:
- Betting on sports or racing, which is often influenced by friends, family, or social media.
- Having a general interest in the sports on which gambling is offered.
- Playing online casino-style games without realising they involve actual gambling, even when these may be ‘free-to-play’ games.
- Exposure to gambling-like features in video games, such as in-game betting.
What influences young people and minors to gamble?
Several factors can encourage young people and minors to gamble, including:
- Social influence and role models: friends, family, and online groups can affect how young people see gambling. Watching others place casual bets or talk about wins can make gambling seem easy and low risk.
- Advertising and sponsorships: gambling ads appear often during sports, online, and on social media. This makes gambling seem normal and part of the game.
- Easy access: betting apps and websites are available 24/7 and easily accessed online or through an app store. It can also be easy for minors to place bets when there's little age verification.
- Games and apps: many games and apps have similar features used in gambling. Betting virtual currency and unlocking rewards based on chance, blurs the line between games and real gambling.
Why is exposure to gambling a problem for minors?
Underage gambling is illegal. Research shows that teenagers who are most at risk of gambling harm, started gambling at an early age.
Young people are drawn to online gambling which is often designed so that players win a lot in ‘practice mode’. Minors might believe that a winning streak will keep going when they play with real money.
Some online gambling can look like video games and apps that involve skill and may even be ‘free-to-play’. This might lead minors to think gambling also involves skill and does not cause harm if they are not losing any money. It can give them false beliefs about their likelihood of winning or increase their willingness to gamble when they turn18.
Why does this matter for young people in preventing harm?
Research shows that seeing gambling ads can often increase young peoples’ interest in betting. When gambling seems normal, young people are more likely to try it. Even small bets can turn into bigger risks. Especially if gambling becomes a regular habit.
For more insights, read the 'Weighing up the odds: Sports betting and young men' research report.
Updated