Young gamers often face pressure to spend money while playing, and many struggle to manage those expenses. Now, a new effort aims to help them do better.
Good to know
- UK gamers spend an average of £540 each year on in-game extras and subscriptions.
- Nearly half of them feel they have little or no control over that spending.
- New school resources will combine money education with gaming insights.
Ygam and TSB Bank are working together to help young players understand the financial side of gaming. They have created new classroom tools that explain how in-game spending works and how to stay in control of it. These tools will be shared through TSB’s Money Confident school programme, already active across the UK.
The idea came out of rising concern among both parents and researchers. A survey by Censuswide for TSB showed that the typical upfront cost of a game is £32, but many gamers go on to spend more than 15 times that on extra content throughout the year. That adds up to £540 on average. More worryingly, almost 1 in 2 say they do not feel fully in control when making those purchases.
One of the main concerns is the growing number of microtransactions and subscription models in popular games. These are small, repeated payments for things like character upgrades, bonus items, or access to special content. While they might seem harmless, they can add up quickly—especially when kids do not realise how much they are spending.
Ygam’s Director of Programmes, Linda Scollins Smith, believes education is the best way to help kids deal with this. “Gaming now plays a central role in young people’s lives, offering significant benefits. However, it is always important to safeguard against the risks, and the increasing sophistication of game monetisation through microtransactions and in-game purchases underscores the need for education on this issue,” she said. “We are delighted to be working with TSB to support their school programmes, combining financial education with gaming education, to help young gamers develop healthy habits and navigate the digital world safely.”
TSB’s Head of Responsible Business, Kate Osiadacz, sees this as a chance to guide digital habits early. “Gaming is often one of young people’s first interactions with spending or managing their money digitally; so we’re pleased to be working with Ygam to reach young people with targeted advice. Our Money Confident schools programme greatly benefits from Ygam’s insight – and we’re keen help empower the next generation to make informed decisions for their financial lives ahead.”
Parents are backing the move. In a 2024 poll by Mumsnet for Ygam, nearly 9 in 10 parents said schools should teach kids about gaming. Yet only a third said their children had received any such lessons. Almost all of them—99%—agreed that this education should begin before children leave Key Stage 2.
Looking ahead, Ygam and TSB Bank have more planned. Beyond school resources, they will run wider awareness campaigns in 2025 aimed at helping families avoid surprise gaming expenses. The goal is to give both parents and kids better tools to manage digital money decisions and reduce financial stress around gaming.
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