Ygam responds to UKGC Young People and Gambling Report 2026
Published
Ygam has issued a statement responding to the Gambling Commission’s “Young People and Gambling Report 2026,” warning that gambling remains normalised for under-18s through advertising and gambling-like mechanics in games.
In the statement, Emily Tofield, Chief Executive Officer, said: "Any reduction in gambling participation among young people under 18 is welcome, but we cannot ignore the normalisation of gambling from an early age. Almost nine in ten young people recall seeing or hearing gambling advertising or promotions in the past year. Early exposure is associated with a greater risk of gambling harms later in life."
Tofield also pointed to loot boxes as a risk factor, saying: "The boundaries between gaming and gambling are increasingly blurred, with more than one in four young people having opened loot boxes using their own money. Children are encountering gambling and gambling-like experiences long before they reach the legal gambling age."
Ygam said education and regulation should reflect changes in young people’s experiences, adding: "Education, regulation and safeguards must keep pace with the changing lives and experiences of children and young people. As an essential part of an effective public health approach, preventative education empowers them and their communities with the knowledge, understanding and resilience to recognise risks and prevent gambling harms."