As Family Nurses, we are passionate about preventing ill health and reducing health inequalities across the life course. Prevention is at the heart of public health nursing, yet one emerging issue demands greater attention: the increasing number of young people engaging in online gambling.

Technology has transformed the way young people learn, socialise and spend their free time. While digital platforms provide many opportunities, they have also made gambling more accessible than ever before. Online betting websites, gambling advertisements on social media, sports sponsorship, influencer marketing and gambling-like features within online games are exposing children and young people to gambling at an earlier age, often without parents or professionals recognising the risks.

The evidence is concerning. The UK Gambling Commission's 2024 Young People and Gambling Survey found that 27% of young people aged 11–17 had spent their own money on gambling during the previous 12 months. Even more worrying, the proportion of young people identified as experiencing problem gambling increased from 0.7% in 2023 to 1.5% in 2024. While these figures may appear small, they represent thousands of young people already experiencing gambling-related harm, with many more at potential risk.

FNP nurses are increasingly hearing about and witnessing the impact of online gambling on young people's lives. The consequences are rarely limited to financial loss. Gambling-related harm is associated with anxiety, depression, social isolation, family conflict, poorer educational outcomes and increased risk-taking behaviours. Young people often experience these harms in silence due to stigma, making early identification particularly challenging.

A particular concern is the convergence of gaming and gambling. Features such as loot boxes, virtual currencies and reward-based gaming systems expose children to gambling-like behaviours before they reach the legal age to gamble. For many young people, the distinction between gaming and gambling has become increasingly blurred, contributing to the normalisation of gambling and potentially increasing future risk.

As public health nurses, we know that prevention is always better than cure. Gambling-related harm should be recognised alongside other major public health challenges such as smoking, alcohol use and obesity. Like these issues, gambling is influenced by wider commercial, social and environmental determinants of health. Tackling the problem therefore requires more than supporting individuals once harm has occurred; it requires action to reduce exposure, strengthen regulation and improve education.

The recently published NHS 10 Year Health Plan reinforces the importance of moving from treating illness to preventing it, while reducing health inequalities and supporting healthier communities. Online gambling sits firmly within this prevention agenda. As nurses, we are uniquely positioned to identify early signs of harm, have compassionate conversations with young people and families, and signpost individuals to appropriate support before problems escalate.

As nurses, we have an important voice in advocating for policies that protect children and young people from gambling-related harm. This includes supporting stronger regulation of online advertising, raising awareness of gambling harms in schools and communities, and ensuring that gambling is recognised as a legitimate public health issue within local and national strategies.

Every interaction with a young person is an opportunity to promote healthy choices and build resilience. By routinely asking about online activity, recognising the warning signs of gambling-related harm and working collaboratively across health, education and voluntary sectors, nurses can make a meaningful difference.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, so too must our public health response. Addressing online gambling is not simply about reducing financial harm; it is about protecting mental health, preventing inequalities and safeguarding the wellbeing of future generations.

Nurses are uniquely placed to start conversations about gambling with the children, young people and families we support. By increasing our awareness of emerging gambling-related harms, asking about online activities as part of routine assessments, and promoting prevention, we can identify concerns earlier and help prevent harm from escalating. We have an important role in raising awareness, reducing stigma and advocating for policies that better protect young people from gambling-related harm.

Together, we can ensure that gambling-related harm becomes everyone's business and that young people receive the support and protection they deserve.

References

• UK Gambling Commission (2024). Young People and Gambling Survey 2024.
• Department of Health and Social Care (2025). NHS 10-Year Health Plan.
• Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID). Prevention and Reducing Health Inequalities.