Prevention Success: Ygam Reaches 1.2 Million Children and Young People

The UK-based charity Ygam, short for Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust, is setting new standards in prevention work. In its 2025/26 Impact Report published on September 9, 2026, it becomes clear how deeply education about the dangers of gaming and gambling has become anchored in the education system. A total of an estimated 1.2 million young people were reached in the past year, with over 100,000 of them being university students. This development is a direct result of increased institutional support and the shift in funding from voluntary industry contributions to a statutory levy in April 2025.

At the heart of Ygam's work is the empowerment of adults who hold a position of trust with children. By training 11,000 professionals, including teachers, youth workers, and medical staff, a multiplier effect is achieved. The data shows that 92 percent of participants feel better equipped to identify signs of gambling harm in young people after the training. Particularly encouraging is the sustainable impact: 67 percent of teachers integrated the content firmly into their curriculum within a year, while 69 percent of health and social care professionals introduced new safeguarding procedures.

Numbers and facts

Since its founding in 2014, Ygam has massively expanded its reach. The cumulative number of children and young people reached since 2020 amounts to over 7 million. A major driver in the current reporting year was the Gaming and Esports Programme launched in April 2025, which has already directly addressed over 50,000 young people. The organization's alumni network, with more than 14,000 members, is now the largest community in the world dedicated to preventing gaming and gambling harms among minors. Financially, Ygam received a commitment of 3 million pounds in March 2026 from the VCSE Gambling Harms Prevention and Resilience Fund, which is provided for the period from 2026 to 2028.

„Behind every figure are children and young people better equipped to navigate an increasingly complex digital world, trusted adults with greater confidence to support them, and communities strengthened through education and prevention.“ - Emily Tofield, Chief Executive Officer of Ygam

Background

The need for such programs is underpinned by Ygam's own research. According to the study, 91 percent of parents support lessons on gaming risks and 83 percent demand education on gambling harms in schools. Interestingly, most parents believe this education should start as early as primary school. This stands in contrast to the fact that so far only 40 percent of parents stated that their child had actually received such education. Ygam works closely with academic institutions, including the Universities of Birmingham, Plymouth, Loughborough, and Bournemouth, to place the programs on a scientifically sound basis.

Why it matters for German players

Although Ygam's report focuses primarily on the United Kingdom, the findings are of great importance for the German market and local players. In Germany, the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) regulates strict player protection measures, which are monitored by the Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL). While a statutory levy finances prevention in the UK, Germany relies on technical barriers such as the monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros and the central LUGAS blocking system. German players should ensure they play exclusively with providers on the official GGL whitelist, as strict German youth protection and prevention standards are only guaranteed there. The Ygam example shows that technical protection alone is not enough, but must be supplemented by early pedagogical education to prevent long-term gambling addiction.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For licensed online casinos in Germany, this trend means a tightening of due diligence obligations. The GGL requires operators to have a sophisticated social concept. The experience from the Ygam report suggests that identifying risk groups, especially young adults aged 18 to 25, through trained staff is crucial. Casinos must ensure that their algorithms for the early detection of problematic gaming behavior are constantly refined. In addition, cooperation with independent prevention organizations is becoming increasingly important to underpin one's own credibility in terms of player protection. Those who disregard youth protection rules or engage in aggressive marketing to minors risk the withdrawal of their license in Germany.