Ygam’s Harm Prevention Efforts Reach 1.2M Young People

Ygam, the UK’s leading gambling harm prevention charity, reached an estimated 1.2 million children and young people during the past year. This number increases the organization’s reach to more than 7 million individuals since 2020, according to its 2025-2026 Impact Report. As gambling becomes increasingly common among young people, Ygam aims to bolster public awareness and hopefully intervene before problems can arise. Education Efforts Had a Long-Term Impact According to Ygam’s latest report, the data reflects the increasing importance of education and early intervention in addressing gambling and gaming-related risks. In the past year, Ygam trained more than 11,000 professionals working with children and young people. This group includes about 3,700 teachers and youth workers, as well as health and social care professionals who can spot potential problems and intervene. The charity’s assessment suggests that training can improve day-to-day practice. 92% of delegates said they felt more confident about identifying and responding to signs of gambling harm in young people. 95% of teachers and youth workers noted that the training had improved their ability to recognize the signs associated with this type of harm. Our ongoing commitment to research, evidence and evaluation means we continually assess not only how many people we reach, but what difference our work makes. Emily Tofield, Ygam chief executive officer Long-term figures reveal what happens after the workshops. 67% of surveyed teachers had incorporated gambling-related education into their curriculum within a year of training. 69% of health and social care professionals also used the experience to improve their procedures. Impressively, this rate reached 75% among professionals working with children. The Charity Is Aware of Emerging Challenges Ygam’s report shows that parental support for prevention does not match the actual education children receive. While 91% of parents supported lessons on gambling harm in schools, only 40% reported that their children had received such education. Among the parents who took part in the program, 93% revealed that they were better able to recognize signs of gambling harm. The charity is gradually expanding its scope. Its Gaming and Esports program, launched in 2025, has already reached over 50,000 youths, raising awareness of the dangers associated with this type of digital entertainment. Ygam is also leveraging the support of people with direct experience of gambling harm through its Lived Experience Advisory Panel and Youth Advisory Panel. We have brought together the largest and most established community dedicated to preventing gaming and gambling harms among children and young people. Emily Tofield, Ygam chief executive officer Ygam’s research efforts continue to expand thanks to collaborations with over 20 UK universities. This unprecedented access to cutting-edge research will help identify emerging risks and find suitable prevention measures. With over 14,000 members now in Ygam’s Alumni network, educators, youth workers and health professionals can join forces to protect the nation’s young.