New Survey Shows UK Student Gambling Addiction on the Rise
GAMSTOP and YGAM have sounded the alarm on the rising rates of problem gambling among students in the United Kingdom.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The two responsible gambling bodies are calling for action after a newly released survey exposed the worrying trend of increasing British student gambling addiction.
The fourth Annual Student Gambling Survey was commissioned by GAMSTOP and YGAM and conducted by Censuswide. The survey features a sample size of 2,000 students from 17 UK cities, making it the most comprehensive study of its kind in the UK.
49% of respondents admitted to having gambled at least once in the past year. Using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) short-form assessment, the study revealed that 17% of students were at high risk of gambling harm, while a further 29% were at moderate risk.
23% of Asian student gamblers were classified as problem gamblers based on the short-form PGSI, while a further 20% and 36% exhibited low-risk and moderate-risk behaviors.
Male Students Betting as Much as Food Money
The study found that male students are more likely to experience problem gambling and spend an average of 1.7 times more on gambling than female students.
Male student gamblers are allocating nearly as much money to gambling as they are to their weekly food budget. On average, they spend £33.54 per week on gambling, only £2.46 less than their weekly grocery spend of £36, according to the 2024 National Student Money Survey.
Additionally, 1 in 10 student gamblers spend £51 to £100 per week on gambling, exceeding their average weekly food expenditure. The study calculated spend as the total amount wagered by a student, minus any winnings, to determine their overall net loss.
Online sports betting is the most popular gambling activity among students, with 25% of male students taking part.
Male students bet on sports online on average 91 days per year, equivalent to every weekday during a typical university term.
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Students Gambing to Make Money
45% of students gamble in hopes of making money, increasing to 50% amongst male students. However, while 20% claim to profit, 40% say it’s harmed their university experience, 1 in 10 can’t afford food, and 17% are using their student loan to fuel their gambling.
The Student Gambling Survey is an important piece of research that confirms the need for targeted support for the student community. Although gambling has decreased slightly in universities, the risk of gambling harm is far higher than in the general population, and students need to be educated about the consequences of gambling in the expectation of making money.
Peer Pressure Drives Student Gambling
Social pressures play a significant role in driving student gambling, with one in three student gamblers citing peer pressure from friends and 25% attributing their behavior to social media.
53% of students are aware of the support services available at their university to address gambling-related issues, and 59% of student gamblers express confidence in accessing these services.
YGAM is now working with universities in every region of the UK, and while we welcome the decrease in the number of students experiencing gambling-related harms, students remain a cohort that engages in gambling in significant numbers.
RELATED TOPICS: Responsible Gambling
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