A recent ‘Young People and Gambling’ report published by The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) in relation to understanding gambling in young people found one-third (31%) of children aged between 11 to 16 pledged money on gambling in a 12-month period prior to the survey.
High % Gamble Legally
However, although the stats make it stark reading the gambling activities that the 31% took part in were legal, these included penny pushing and claw grabber games most commonly seen at seaside arcades. Others played cards with friends or family for money. 
3% of children admitted they started gambling on fruit machines, 2% betting on eSports, and 1% on scratch cards and the National Lottery. The information gained from the survey found 23% of young people spent their own money on legal forms of gambling. 78% who had spent money gambling in the last twelve months did it for fun, 21% admitted gambling had a feel-good factor and 29% disagreed it made them feel good and 29% were unsure how they felt. 28% of the surveyed group had previously seen family members gamble and this had led to arguments or tension within the home. 11% admitted winnings from gambling had helped pay for things at home.
Some Still Struggle with Gambling
Although on the surface the data submitted looks encouraging, ‘there is clearly a group who still struggle with gambling said the UKGC. “We are committed to understanding and acting on these findings in more detail to help us, and a variety of other stakeholders, appreciate if and how young people are playing on regulated and non-regulated products, the challenges, and the wider implications.”