Don’t forget that children gamble too

The discussion around gambling addiction is often centred on adults. Age restrictions do not, however, adequately protect children and young people from the dangers of gambling. The Gambling Commission’s 2022 annual report1 suggests that most of the gambling that children (aged 11 to 16) engage with is legal or not age restricted, excluding it from the commission’s direct regulatory control. In the past year, 31% of children have spent their own money gambling, 15% made bets with friends or family, and 22% played arcade games (such as claw grab or penny pusher machines). Furthermore, 0.9% of children are classed as problem gamblers2 and 2.4% are at-risk gamblers; this means that one child in every classroom of 30 in the UK is a problem or at-risk gambler. While it is recommended that gambling is covered in school curriculums, only 21% of children have discussed gambling with a teacher,3 suggesting a need…
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