The UK Gambling Commission’s 2026 survey of 3,867 pupils aged 11–17 found that 26% had spent their own money on gambling in the previous year, down from 30% in 2025. The share who took part in age-restricted gambling fell to 5% from 18%. Arcade gaming machines were the most commonly used category overall, at 19%.
The lower reported participation in age-restricted gambling informs the Commission’s work to protect children.
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Reportedly, the International Association of Gaming Regulators holds its 2026 annual conference in Lima from 19 to 22 October, hosted by Peru's MINCETUR. Sessions cover prediction markets, illegal gambling, artificial intelligence, money laundering, payments and sports integrity.
The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) is holding its 2026 annual conference at the JW Marriott in Miraflores, Lima, from 19 to 22 October, with Peru's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR) as host. The programme covers prediction markets, illegal gambling, artificial intelligence, money laundering, payments, sports integrity, advertising, self-exclusion and cross-border cooperation. It was reported that IAGR is returning to Lima 11 years after its previous conference in the Peruvian capital.
IAGR and NAGRA jointly filed an amicus brief urging the US Supreme Court to review whether federal commodities law overrides state gambling laws for sports event contracts on CFTC-registered platforms. The associations cited conflicting preliminary-injunction rulings involving New Jersey and Nevada and said regulators need clarity on their authority and consumer safeguards.
The UK Gambling Commission reported that licensed gambling premises fell by 2% to 8,081 in the year to March 2026, while betting shops declined by 3.6% to 5,617. Gambling GGY reached £17.5bn, up 4.4%, and online casino, betting and bingo GGY rose 6.9% to £8.3bn.
The Gambling Commission said its current research cannot provide a sufficiently reliable estimate of the size of Great Britain’s illegal gambling market. Research director Ben Haden said estimates of spending require additional assumptions that compound uncertainty, and the regulator plans to work with operators to strengthen its evidence base.
The Gambling Commission launched an Illegal Gambling Hub in the UK alongside the first report in a series on the illegal online market in Great Britain. The hub will collect research, enforcement updates and guidance on identifying unlicensed gambling; the first report examines consumer behaviour, motivations and profiles, with further reports planned on engagement, enforcement and market-size estimates.