What gambling harm is and how it affects young people in 5 key areas

Gambling harm is any damage caused by gambling activity, whether or not the person loses money. It includes mental health problems, damaged relationships, difficulty concentrating at school and feeling trapped by secrecy or debt. Young people under 18 are particularly vulnerable because their brains are still developing and they may not recognise when something recreational has become harmful. Transformation Trust explains what gambling harm looks like in young people's lives and what parents, teachers and young people themselves can do about it.

Harm beyond financial loss

Most people think gambling harm means losing money. That is one part, but harm starts before a young person runs out of cash. A teenager who spends lunch money on loot boxes has less to eat that day. A student who borrows from friends to place bets damages trust even if they pay it back. Someone who hides their phone use or lies about where they have been is experiencing harm through secrecy and isolation.

Mental health suffers early. Anxiety builds when someone cannot stop thinking about the next game or the last loss. Guilt and shame follow when they realise they have spent more than they intended. Sleep disruption is common, either from late-night gambling sessions or from worrying about consequences. These emotional effects often appear before serious financial damage, but they are no less real.

Relationships change. Friends notice when someone becomes irritable, withdraws from group activities or constantly asks to borrow money. Family members see mood swings, secrecy about online activity and defensiveness when asked simple questions. Trust erodes on both sides, and young people feel more isolated, which can drive them further into gambling as an escape.

How gambling reaches young people

Young people encounter gambling-like activities in places adults may not expect. Loot boxes in video games use the same psychological mechanisms as slot machines: variable rewards, bright visuals and the promise that the next attempt might bring something valuable. Players spend real money for a randomised outcome, and some games encourage repeated purchases through design.

Skin betting lets players wager virtual items from games on external websites. The items have real-world value and can be traded or sold. Because no traditional currency changes hands at the start, some young people do not recognise it as gambling. The sites often have weak age verification, and the activity sits outside regulated gambling frameworks. More detail on how this works and why it matters is in our article on skin betting and its reach into gaming communities.

Social media and influencers normalise betting. Sponsored content, affiliate links and casual mentions of betting apps make gambling seem routine. Young people see someone they admire talk about odds or share a winning bet, and it looks like part of everyday adult life rather than a regulated activity with risks.

Simulated gambling

Free-to-play games that mimic casino or betting mechanics introduce gambling concepts without money at the start. Players learn how slot reels work, how odds are presented and how it feels to chase a win. Research into gambling behaviour shows that familiarity with these mechanics makes the transition to real-money gambling feel less significant.

Warning signs in young people

Changes in behaviour often appear before a young person talks about gambling. They may become secretive about their phone or computer use, closing apps or browser windows when someone enters the room. Money goes missing from wallets, bags or shared spaces, or a young person suddenly has expensive items they cannot explain.

School performance drops. Concentration falters, homework goes unfinished and attendance becomes irregular. A previously engaged student may lose interest in subjects they enjoyed or stop participating in extracurricular activities. Teachers sometimes notice the change before parents do, especially if the young person is hiding their struggles at home.

Emotional patterns shift. Mood swings become more pronounced, with periods of high energy followed by withdrawal or irritability. Anxiety about money or debts may surface indirectly, through comments about needing cash or worry about upcoming expenses. Defensiveness increases when asked about their day, their spending or their time online.

Physical signs

Sleep disturbance is common. Late-night gambling sessions disrupt rest, and worry about losses or debts keeps some young people awake. Tiredness during the day follows, along with difficulty waking for school. Appetite changes and neglect of personal care sometimes appear when someone is preoccupied with gambling thoughts.

Impact on mental health and wellbeing

Anxiety and depression often develop alongside gambling problems in young people. The cycle of chasing losses, feeling guilt and hiding behaviour creates constant stress. Some young people describe feeling trapped, unable to stop but unable to win back what they have lost. The secrecy compounds the problem because they cannot talk to anyone about what is happening.

Self-esteem declines. A young person who thought they were in control realises they are not, and that realisation brings shame. They may feel stupid for falling into the pattern or weak for being unable to stop. These feelings make it harder to reach out for help, creating a spiral where isolation deepens harm.

Suicidal thoughts can emerge in severe cases, particularly when debt accumulates or when a young person sees no way out of the situation they are in. This is not an inevitable outcome, but it is a real risk that parents, teachers and youth workers need to recognise. Any mention of hopelessness or self-harm requires immediate attention and professional support.

Steps to take if you are concerned

1. Start a conversation without judgement. Ask open questions about what the young person has been doing online and listen without interrupting or lecturing. The goal is to understand, not to solve everything immediately.
2. Check devices together. Look at app purchases, transaction histories and browser activity. Do this with the young person present, explaining that you are trying to help, not to punish.
3. Set up parental controls and blocking software. Tools like Gamban or BetBlocker can prevent access to gambling sites. Net Nanny and Qustodio block inappropriate content more broadly and are useful when devices are shared with younger children.
4. Contact a support organisation. GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, free and available every day. Trained advisers speak to young people, parents and professionals. BeGambleAware at begambleaware.org offers online resources and referrals to treatment services.
5. Involve the school if appropriate. Many schools have safeguarding leads who can coordinate support and ensure the young person is monitored during the day. They may also have access to counselling services or youth workers.

Financial controls

A young person's access to money needs reviewing. Cancel any debit cards they hold independently and move to a supervised account where transactions are visible. Agree spending limits together and check statements weekly. If debt has built up, tackle it openly rather than letting shame keep it hidden.

What schools and youth workers can do

Education about gambling harm belongs in personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) lessons. Discussions should cover not only traditional gambling but also loot boxes, skin betting and the marketing tactics young people encounter online. Peer-led sessions often work well because young people trust information from those their own age.

Safeguarding policies need updating to include gambling. Staff should know the warning signs and feel confident asking questions when they notice changes in a student's behaviour or finances. A clear referral pathway to counselling or external support makes intervention faster when concerns arise.

Youth workers in clubs, sports teams and community groups are well placed to notice harm because they see young people in informal settings. Training on gambling harm recognition equips them to raise concerns sensitively and connect families to help. The National Gambling Helpline provides guidance for professionals as well as for young people and families.

Tools that protect against gambling harm

Several tools restrict access to gambling sites and activities. GamStop is a free national self-exclusion scheme that blocks someone from all gambling sites licensed in Great Britain. It works for periods of six months, one year or five years and cannot be reversed once activated. Our guide to GamStop explains how young people and parents can set it up and what it covers.

Blocking software prevents devices from reaching gambling sites altogether. Gamban is a paid subscription service that works across computers, tablets and phones. BetBlocker is free and open-source, available at betblocker.org. Both update their lists regularly to catch new sites, though neither can block every gambling-related app or in-game purchase.

Parental-control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio blocks categories of content, including gambling, and gives parents visibility over what sites are visited and when. These work best as part of an agreed family plan rather than as secret surveillance, which damages trust if discovered.

Limits and self-exclusion

For young people old enough to gamble legally, deposit limits restrict how much money can be put into an account over a day, week or month. Time-out pauses access for a set period, usually between a day and six weeks. Self-exclusion closes the account entirely, typically for at least six months. More on how self-exclusion works and when it is the right choice is covered in our article on self-exclusion as a protective tool.

Getting help and moving forward

GamCare provides free support through the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, open every day. Advisers offer confidential help to young people, parents and anyone concerned about gambling harm. Online chat and email support are available at gamcare.org.uk.

BeGambleAware at begambleaware.org publishes guides for families and runs a treatment network across the UK. Their resources explain how to start difficult conversations and where to find local services.

Gordon Moody offers residential treatment and online support at gordonmoody.org.uk. Their programmes are intensive and suited to more severe cases, but they accept referrals for young people as well as adults.

Recovery takes time. Gambling harm does not disappear the moment someone stops gambling, because the emotional damage, broken relationships and loss of trust require repair. Professional counselling helps young people process guilt and rebuild self-esteem. Family therapy addresses the impact on relationships and teaches healthier communication.

Gambling is for people aged 18 and over. Young people who are struggling, and the adults who support them, should know that help is available and that reaching out is a sign of strength, not failure.

#Gambling harm #Warning signs #Underage gambling

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