Hong Kong PR

(AsiaGameHub) –   The number of students losing over £50 per week to gambling has doubled.

UK—A recent study indicates that UK university students who gamble are currently losing an average of over £50 per week. This figure is nearly twice the amount recorded the previous year.

In December 2025, the fifth annual Student Gambling Survey polled 2,000 students. Censuswide carried out the research for the self-exclusion service Gamstop and the responsible gambling charity Ygam. Approximately 65 per cent of participants reported gambling at least once during the previous year.

A five-year study involving 10,000 students identified a wider trend: overall participation dropped from 78 per cent in 2022 to 65 per cent in 2026. It appears that while fewer students are gambling, those who do are spending more.

Regarding demographics, male students were significantly more likely to gamble (75 per cent) than female students (55 per cent). Only half of Asian students reported gambling, compared to 72 per cent of White students.

The National Lottery remained the most frequent activity (31 per cent), followed by online sports betting (29 per cent). There was a notable gender gap in sports betting: 41 per cent of men versus 17 per cent of women. Engagement frequency varied by activity: sports bettors played an average of 116 days annually, online slot players 103 days, and lottery participants 65 days.

Weekly expenditure surged to £50.33, nearly doubling the £27.24 recorded in 2024. Three-quarters of student gamblers spent over £10 a week, and nearly 25 per cent spent more than £50. Men’s spending (£64.89) was considerably higher than women’s (£30.93).

Motivations for gambling have also changed: 53 per cent of participants said they gambled “to make money,” an increase from 45 per cent the previous year. Other factors included excitement and socialising, while 4 per cent confessed they gambled because they were unable to stop.

Furthermore, 18 per cent of student gamblers were identified as problem gamblers via the PGSI screening tool: 30 per cent were at moderate risk, and 16 per cent at low risk. Men and students from Black, Asian, or Mixed backgrounds had higher risk scores.

Almost half reported that gambling negatively affected their university experience, citing issues like difficulty buying food (15 per cent), missing social gatherings (14 per cent), and academic problems. Seven per cent applied for hardship loans, and 6 per cent thought about leaving or deferring their studies. Primary funding sources were wages (52 per cent), savings (37 per cent), and student loans (21 per cent).

Fiona Palmer, CEO of Gamstop, remarked: “The Annual Student Gambling Survey shows a concerning lack of awareness regarding gambling risks among students and the consequences for those who struggle to maintain control, though the increased awareness of support services is a positive sign.” She emphasized that self-exclusion is essential, noting that nearly 60,000 people under 25 are registered with Gamstop—a 75 per cent increase over five years.

Gamstop saw a 40 per cent rise in registrations for 16-24-year-olds during the latter half of 2025, with 58,675 new sign-ups between July and December, averaging 319 daily. Awareness of campus support services has grown slightly, with 58 per cent of student gamblers now aware of available help (up from 53 per cent).

Outside of traditional gambling, 37 per cent of students reported investing in cryptocurrency (51 per cent of men compared to 25 per cent of women). About 85 per cent played video games, and 75 per cent of those had purchased loot boxes or similar randomized items, an increase from 66 per cent the previous year. More than half of these students viewed such purchases as a type of gambling.

A recent study by the Nationwide building society revealed that the top 10 per cent of UK gamblers wagered approximately £745 each month.