Gambling rates among Welsh teens rise - research suggests
Public Health Wales says gambling among 15 and 16-year-old boys has risen since 2023, prompting concerns over the potential impact on young people.
More than one in five Year 11 boys in Wales say they have gambled in the past week, new figures suggest.
The proportion of 15 and 16-year-old boys who said they had spent their own money on gambling rose to 21.4% in 2025, from 18.2% two years earlier.
The figures come from the School Health Research Network survey, carried out with Cardiff University and Public Health Wales.
Across all pupils questioned, 11.5% said they had gambled in the previous seven days.
Public Health Wales says gambling can affect young people's finances, mental health and relationships.
It has been working with schools to raise awareness of the risks, including through classroom resources covering gambling, gaming and online harms.
Helen Erswell, a consultant in public health, said the increase among Year 11 boys was "concerning".
She said not everyone who gambled would experience harm, but the findings showed the importance of prevention and ensuring young people had access to information and support.
Public Health Wales says it is also working with partners on a national prevention programme aimed at reducing gambling-related harm.
The organisation has identified research priorities including prevention, early intervention and support for people affected by gambling.
It says evidence from the survey will help shape future work to better understand gambling among young people and reduce the risk of harm.