Ygam Launches Gaming & Esports Education Programme

Online gaming and esports are booming, but so are concerns over youth safety, mental health, and digital wellbeing. With 80% of young adults gaming regularly, the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (Ygam) has stepped up to provide education. Its newly launched Gaming & Esports Programme offers vital training on microtransactions, mental health, and online risks—empowering players and parents alike. Explore how this forward-thinking programme aims to reshape digital education and create safer gaming environments across the UK.

Ygam Launches National Gaming & Esports Education Programme to Tackle Youth Online Risks

3 Key Points

• Ygam’s new programme targets youth, parents, and carers with tools to understand gaming-related risks.
• Focus areas include microtransactions, in-game mechanics, online conduct, and mental health awareness.
• Programme aligns with rising esports engagement and calls for safer, more inclusive digital environments.

The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (Ygam) has launched its Gaming & Esports Programme, a UK-wide initiative aimed at educating young players, parents, and carers about the evolving risks and realities of digital gaming. As video games and esports become deeply embedded in youth culture, concerns around online safety, harmful content, and mental wellbeing are rising.

Ygam’s new programme arrives at a critical time. According to recent research, over 80% of UK residents aged 16–24 played video games in 2024, with 83% of them gaming online. At the same time, the global esports market is expected to surpass $10.9 billion by 2032, reflecting the sector’s staggering growth and influence.

Recognising the urgent need for early intervention and informed guidance, Ygam’s programme includes interactive workshops that break down complex topics such as:

• Microtransactions and loot boxes, which often mimic gambling mechanics and can lead to financial harm.
• Evolving game design elements, including addictive features like “grind loops,” battle passes, and time-limited events.
• Digital safeguarding, tackling grooming, toxic behaviour, and exposure to inappropriate content.
• Mental health awareness, helping young people recognise when gaming habits may become harmful.

Delivered both in-person and online, the programme has already reached over 100 individuals, with more sessions scheduled throughout April and May.

A Community-Driven Effort

Sacha Kent, Programme Lead for Gaming & Esports at Ygam, highlighted the initiative’s mission:

“It’s vital we recognise the central role gaming plays in the digital lives that children lead today. This programme marks an important step in helping young people enjoy gaming safely, with the knowledge and tools to understand potential risks.”

Support for the programme has come from across the public sector and academia. Charlotte Nichols MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Video Gaming and Esports, praised Ygam’s work:

“Video games are an enormous part of many young lives, but there are dangers in the online world. Ygam’s efforts to address these challenges are vital.”

University societies are also on board. Lia Thompson, President of the Gaming & Esports Society at Sheffield Hallam University, shared her personal perspective:

“As a woman in gaming, you see toxic behaviours normalised. Ygam’s training is helping us challenge that and foster safer, more inclusive communities.”

Beyond Awareness: Building a Safer Digital Future

The launch coincides with the final months of CEO Jane Rigbye’s tenure, who steps down this June. Rigbye’s leadership has seen Ygam grow from a UK-based charity into a national voice on gambling and gaming harms prevention. This new programme reflects Ygam’s continued evolution toward addressing interconnected digital risks.

While the current focus is on youth and parents, Ygam has hinted at expanding the initiative to educators, esports organisations, and policymakers. This would help build a broader infrastructure of digital literacy and resilience for young gamers.

Ygam’s Gaming & Esports Programme couldn’t come at a better time. As gaming continues to dominate the lives of young people, equipping them—and their parents—with the tools to navigate this landscape is essential. By fostering awareness, promoting inclusivity, and tackling harmful behaviours head-on, Ygam is helping to shape a safer, healthier future for gaming in the UK. The message is clear: gaming can be fun and rewarding—but only when done responsibly.