At least 30,000 children as young as 11 are classed as problem gamblers, an official watchdog has found. A study by the gambling commission says that 0.9 per cent of children aged 11 to 16 have been clinically defined as “problem gamblers”.
The NHS classes problem gambling as disruptive or damaging to the individual or their family, or has reached the point where the habit interferes with their daily life.
A further 2.4 per cent – or 75,000 – were classed as “at risk” gamblers, meaning there was danger that their betting could tip them into it being a problem.
Overall nearly a third (31 per cent) of children said they had spent their own money on gambling in the past 12 months.
