We are delighted to share new research exploring young people across Scotland’s views on gambling and gaming. The report was commissioned by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), and delivered by Young Scot and Fast Forward.

The results highlight the impact gambling has on young people in Scotland – both their own gambling, and that of those close to them. It also shows that a strong majority of young people want their voices heard on how gambling is regulated.

We designed the survey in collaboration with a panel of young people, and a panel of experts with lived experience of gambling harm. 545 children and young people aged 11-26 completed the survey, from all 32 local authorities across Scotland.

Download the full report: Young people’s views on gaming and gambling 2022

Key findings include:

• More than 4 in 5 respondents (84%) think young people should have a say on laws around gambling and gambling-like game features
• A large majority of young people (92%) have played a video game in the last 12 months
• Over half of young people (60%) had opened a loot box in a game
• A quarter of young people (24%) have gambled in the last 12 months
• A quarter of young people who gamble (25%) said their gambling had impacted them in some way
• Of those who have someone close to them who gambles regularly, a third (33%) have worried about that person’s gambling
• Feelings about loot boxes were neutral, with the same proportion saying they ‘don’t like them at all’ as ‘like them a lot’ (9%)