More than one in five year 11 boys in Wales say they have gambled in the last week, according to new research described as "concerning" by public health officials.
The findings, published by Public Health Wales and Cardiff University, show that rates of self-reported gambling among boys aged 15 and 16 in Wales have "significantly increased" over recent years. Some 21.4% of boys said they had gambled in the last seven days when they completed the SHRN student health and well-being survey, the largest survey of school-aged children and young people in Wales.
Survey findings
The survey asked pupils in years 7 to 11 (aged 11-16) whether they had spent their own money on gambling activities in the previous seven days, alongside a range of other questions relating to their health and wellbeing. Overall, 11.5% of children and young people reported gambling in the past week.
The rates were much higher among older boys, with just 6.5% of year 11 girls saying they had gambled in the last seven days compared with 21.4% of boys. Among boys of this age, self-reported gambling increased from 18.2% in 2023 to 21.4% in 2025 – a rise of 3.2 percentage points.
Response from Public Health Wales
Public Health Wales said it was already working with schools to help prevent gambling-related harms among young people. Helen Erswell, consultant in public health at the organisation, said: "It is concerning to see these levels of gambling among young people in Wales, particularly the increase reported among year 11 boys.
"While not every young person who gambles will experience harm, gambling can have significant impacts on financial wellbeing, mental health, and relationships, both now and later in life.
"These findings highlight the importance of continued action to prevent gambling-related harm and ensure that young people have the information, support and opportunities they need to make informed choices.
"There is also support available for those who may be experiencing difficulties, including tools such as Gamban, which can help people block access to gambling websites and apps.
"Public Health Wales is working with partners to roll out a national prevention programme and improve understanding of gambling behaviours and their impact on health and wellbeing, using evidence such as the SHRN data to inform prevention efforts.
"As part of this work, we have identified key research priorities to strengthen the evidence base on gambling-related harms, including prevention, early intervention, and support for treatment and recovery.
"We welcome the growing focus on gambling-related harm in Wales and believe these findings can help inform future discussions about how best to support young people and reduce the risk of harm in Wales."
