UK Gambling Commission Challenges Youth Gambling Claims In Parliament

oncerns about youth gambling in the UK have sparked debate again, but this time the Gambling Commission is the one pushing back. After a recent parliamentary session featured researchers calling for tougher restrictions, the Commission has responded—saying some of the data presented during the hearing was inaccurate or lacked solid evidence.

Good to know

• The Gambling Commission says three expert claims in Parliament were not backed by proper sources.
• Official data shows 27% of 11–17-year-olds gambled in the past year, often in family settings.
• New rules now require ID checks for anyone appearing under 25 at land-based venues.

In a letter to Health and Social Care Committee Chair Layla Moran, Executive Director Tim Miller pointed to specific claims made in the April session that did not match the Commission’s own research. Lucy Hubber from Public Health Nottingham said a third of 11–16-year-olds had used land-based gambling, but Miller said that was based on local numbers, not national data.

Another claim came from Professor Sam Chamberlain of the University of Southampton, who stated that up to 20% of young people had a gambling problem in 2020. Miller said no source was provided to support that. Meanwhile, Heather Wardle from the University of Glasgow argued that skin betting was as risky as online slots, but again, no supporting evidence was cited.

Miller responded by sharing findings from the Gambling Commission’s “Young People and Gambling 2024” report. According to that report, 27% of 11–17-year-olds had gambled over the previous year. But most of that activity involved arcade games like claw machines or informal bets with friends or family. These are not the types of gambling typically tied to higher-risk behaviors.

He also noted that many minors gambled with parental knowledge or supervision. For instance, 8% of respondents said they played National Lottery games online, often using their parents’ accounts with permission. Only a small number reported gambling without adult approval.

On the regulatory side, the Gambling Commission has tightened age checks. As of 2024, anyone who appears under 25 must now show ID at land-based gambling venues. The change came as part of the Commission’s broader alignment with the Gambling Act review. Test purchase success rates also improved, reaching 94% over the most recent 12-month period.

Beyond underage gambling, the Commission has taken a harder stance on illegal platforms, including those linked to games like Roblox. Since April, they have sent over 1,100 cease-and-desist orders, targeting third-party sites that enable gambling with in-game currencies like Robux. The regulator is also working with search engines to limit access to these sites.

In Miller’s view, pushing accurate data into the conversation is key. He wrote:

“The Commission takes the issue of illegal gambling incredibly seriously and as part of our wider work on tackling illegal operators, the Commission has been taking increased action.”

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