Latest News
New Research Reveals Gambling Ads on Social Media More Appealing to Children than Adults
According to a new study conducted at the University of Bristol, gambling advertising on social media is significantly more appealing to children and young people than to adults.
The study findings showed disguised gambling marketing and ads for betting on esports – professional online competing in computer games – were nearly four times more appealing to children than adults. It also revealed nearly half of children are exposed to such advertising weekly and around a quarter encounter it daily.
Whereas results showed the vast majority of adults were wary or annoyed when faced with gambling ads, children mainly reacted positively.
Co-lead investigator Dr Raffaello Rossi, who is conducting first-of-its-kind research into the use and impact of gambling advertising on social media, said: “The overwhelming strong appeal of gambling advertising on social media to children is of huge concern, as it is known the earlier people start gambling the more likely it will become habitual and problematic.
“That’s why there needs to be much stricter and clearer rules in place to clamp down on the issue, which could easily spiral out of control given how long children and young people spend on social media these days. Many of the adverts may look entirely innocent and harmless, but they in fact pose a serious risk of getting a whole new generation of gamblers hooked on a serious addiction which has devastating consequences.”
The report, in light of its findings and previous studies, is calling for:
- Esports gambling advertising, which automatically appeals to children and young people, to be banned.
- Gambling content marketing, which masquerades as something appealing, to be rigorously regulated and informed by what is proven to attract young people.
- Regulators to broaden the age range of a “young person” from 16-17 to 16-24-year-olds.
- Social media platforms to only allow gambling ads on social media when users actively opt-in to receive them.
The report comes as the Gambling Act is currently being reviewed by the government, and the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) has launched a consultation to better protect children from gambling advertising which appeals to them.
This study surveyed online 210 children aged 11 to 17 years, 222 young people aged 18 to 24, and 221 adults aged 25 to 78 years in the UK from May to July last year.
Esports gambling adverts were also found to be much more appealing to children and young people than adults, who were shown to be four-times more likely to feel extremely negative emotions about the ads than children.
Co-lead investigator Agnes Nairn, Professor of Marketing at the University of Bristol’s School of Management, said: “We know from previous research that children are actively following and engaging with gambling content on social media and regulators are struggling to keep up with this trend. This new research shines a spotlight on two specific types of gambling adverts: content marketing and esports that are strongly and significantly more appealing to children and young people than to older adults.
“Importantly, the current regulations do not address these types of advertising at all. The esports market is forecast to exceed a billion dollars this year. It has an audience of 500 million people, most of them children and young people. The regulations need to be reformed as a matter of urgency.”
The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM), a leading UK gambling-harm prevention charity, provides a range of education programmes, working with thousands of schools and youth practitioners to help engage with and safeguard future generations against gambling harms.
Kev Clelland, Strategic Alliance Director at YGAM, said: “A key part of our programmes focus on gambling advertising, as well as the growth of esports, and this latest research will further inform our evidence-led resources. The findings support the evidence we submitted to the Gambling Act Review where we called for more to be done to minimise the exposure that children have to gambling advertising. All gambling advertising should be designed and displayed in a way that is appropriate for adults and avoids marketing techniques that appeal to children. There is opportunity to strengthen advertising protections and both the advertisers and the platforms which host adverts should use technology and data to do more.”
Powered by WPeMatico
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Ygam has now surpassed the milestone of reaching an estimated five million children and young people across the UK through its portfolio of prevention programmes.
Founded in 2014, Ygam has now delivered its award-winning training and resources on gaming and gambling harms to over 32,000 delegates.
Ygam’s reach extends beyond the education sector, with training delivered to more than 5,500 professionals working across health and social care — including hospitals, health boards, GP surgeries, and community nursing settings. This work, aligned with a public health approach to preventing gambling harms, has directly contributed to the digital safeguarding of nearly half a million children and young people accessing health services.
With growing concerns from parents and carers about the role of gaming and gambling in the wider online safety conversation, Ygam has become a trusted and respected source of advice and guidance for families. The charity has delivered workshops to more than 4,500 parents and carers.
Ygam is a national charity with a footprint across every region of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and a presence in 64 of the UK’s 76 cities.
Ygam’s work has also seen a significant increase in the longevity of its reach, with nearly 100,000 resource downloads of its award-winning resources, and at least 50% of educators implementing these materials into their lessons.
Helen Martin, Interim CEO of Ygam, said: “This milestone is more than just a number – it’s a reflection of the positive impact we’re making in every corner of the UK. We’re incredibly proud of the growing community that shares our passion for safeguarding children’s wellbeing in an increasingly complex digital world, where gaming and gambling are more accessible than ever. From schools to sports clubs, parents to practitioners, and colleges to community centres, we’re raising awareness through the powerful tool of education. As we mark this extraordinary achievement, the demand for our resources has never been greater. We remain committed to expanding our reach and deepening our impact, ensuring that every child has the knowledge and confidence to navigate the risks of gaming and gambling harms.”
But there’s so much more to do – help us reach the next 5 million…
The post Ygam achieve milestone of reaching 5 million young people appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Boomerang Partners set to shine at SiGMA Europe 2025 with sports-themed booth activities and the Golden Boomerang League winners celebration
From November 4th to 6th, 2025, Boomerang Partners will participate in SiGMA Europe 2025 in Rome, one of the most important events in the world for the affiliate marketing and iGaming industry. The company’s booth 5046 G will be a focal point, thanks to the signature ‘Boomerang Arena’ concept.
The ‘Boomerang Arena’ symbolizes the strong connection between sports and technological innovations, and reflects Boomerang Partners’ focus on the sports aspect of their business. The booth will be divided into several themed zones dedicated to football, golf, tennis, and boxing, as well as a location for sports-related interactive experiences.
Booth 5046 G will be the must-visit hub for SiGMA Europe 2025’s guests for many reasons. Boomerang Partners is preparing a variety of activities that are sure to generate heightened interest from booth visitors. They can look forward to various sports-related interactive experiences, mini-games, table tennis activity, and a unique gift auction. Details about the participation conditions will be announced later. Stay tuned for updates.
On November 5th, Boomerang Partners will ceremoniously announce and award the winners of its first sports traffic tournament, the Golden Boomerang League. It runs from September 1st to October 31st and is designed for both current and new affiliate partners of the company. The prizes include direct entry into the annual global tournament, the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026, and two all-expenses-paid AC Milan Experience packages, which include flights, accommodations, and tickets to a match at the San Siro Stadium. Boomerang Partners will provide this opportunity as the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan.
Book a meeting with Boomerang Partners’ managers now to learn about collaboration opportunities. There are only a few slots left.
About Boomerang
Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. The agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.
The agency’s client portfolio contains 13+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Studio’s latest classic slot delivers exhilarating bonus action against a glamorous TV gameshow backdrop, with cascading reels adding to the excitement
Have you got what it takes to take on the Prize Ladder and come out on top? That’s the question players must answer before taking on the latest classic slot title from in-demand content house, Northern Lights Gaming.
Bright lights and big wins are the order of the day in Prize Ladder, a game-show style blockbuster that promises twists and turns from the very first game round to the last.
Set on a vibrant stage with dazzling neon lights and a booming announcer voice, this ANYWAYS Rolling Reels
game pays both left-to-right and right-to-left.
ANYWAYS Rolling Reels is triggered on any win and kick-starts a cascade where winning symbols are removed and new ones roll in, opening up chances for more consecutive wins.
The excitement builds with the Prize Ladder™ itself, which increases the value of winning symbols with every consecutive cascade in a single spin. And if a Padlock symbol lands on the final cascade, those juicy symbol values get locked in for the next spin.
This wouldn’t be a Northern Lights Gaming slot without a glitzy Free Spins bonus, which gets triggered when three or more Scatter symbols land. This gets the player eight Free Games with the Awards Cards held for the duration.
Then there’s the Super Spins, which are triggered when the player lands a full reel of the same symbol with Star overprints on reels one or five.
One whole reel of the same symbol also has a chance to trigger the Super Spins. The reels then spin in more of that symbol across the reels. Each position that is not held, spins, with either the triggering symbol, blank or Scatters.
Additional symbols and Scatters that land are held on the reels, and for each Super Spin, the Prize Ladder award rolls up one level.
Now for the Buy the Bonus options – players can Booster Buy, which increases the chance of triggering the Free Spins, Super Spins and the Padlock Bonus, or they can opt for the Bonus Buy to head straight to the Free Spins, Super Spins or Super Free Spins.
Chris Loftus CEO at Northern Lights Gaming, said: “Prize Ladder is a classic slot that plays more like a bonus-heavy video slot. It’s a game that’s all about the glitz and glamour, and climbing that ladder to unlock the game’s biggest bonuses and wins.
“The entire team has really pulled together for Prize Ladder, and the result is a visually striking slot with gameplay that gets pulses racing thanks to a smart combination of mechanics and bonuses, including some of our unique in-house features like Rolling Reels.
“Think your players are ready to take on the Prize Ladder? There’s only one way to find out.”
The post Introducing Prize Ladder from Northern Lights Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Balkan Entertainment and Gaming Expo6 days agoCT Gaming to Showcase Innovation and Leading Solutions at BEGE 2025
-
Australia6 days ago
GLI Grows Stronger and Bigger in Melbourne with New Lab Location
-
Amusnet5 days ago
Week 42/2025 slot games releases
-
ELA Games6 days ago
ELA Games Casts Its Latest Spell with Witches’ Book
-
ACMA5 days ago
ACMA Blocks More Illegal Online Gambling Sites
-
Africa5 days ago
SOFTSWISS Deepens Safer Play as Platinum Partner of Responsible Gambling Summit 2025
-
BCAP5 days ago
CAP and BCAP Update Guidance on Protecting Under-18s in Gambling and Lotteries Advertising
-
Anne Marie Caulfield5 days ago
GRAI Publishes 2025-2027 Strategy Statement
