Key Findings at a Glance
- Average weekly losses for student gamblers have surged to £50.33, representing a near doubling from the previous year’s £27.24
- Student gambling participation decreased to 65% from 78% in 2022, yet those continuing to gamble are wagering significantly larger amounts
- The proportion of students gambling primarily for financial gain rose to 53%, compared to 45% in the prior year
- Cryptocurrency investment reached 37% among the student population, with male students (51%) investing at twice the rate of female students (25%)
- Young adult registrations with Gamstop increased by 40% during the latter half of 2025 among the 16-24 age bracket
Recent research surveying 2,000 students at UK universities reveals that student gamblers are experiencing average weekly losses exceeding £50, representing nearly double the £27.24 figure recorded twelve months earlier.
Conducted during December 2025, the fifth edition of the Student Gambling Survey was carried out by Censuswide for gambling prevention charity Ygam and national self-exclusion program Gamstop. Results indicate that 65% of surveyed students engaged in gambling activities at least once during the preceding year.
Although overall participation has declined from the 78% recorded in 2022, students who continue gambling demonstrate significantly increased engagement levels. Metrics including weekly expenditure, gambling frequency, and financial risk have all trended upward.
The National Lottery emerged as the most prevalent gambling activity at 31%, with online sports wagering following closely at 29%. A pronounced gender disparity exists in sports betting, where 41% of male students participate versus just 17% of female students.
Gender differences also extend to overall gambling expenditure. Male students averaged £64.89 in weekly spending, substantially higher than the £30.93 average for female students. Nearly one-quarter of all student gamblers reported spending over £50 each week.
Shift Toward Profit-Motivated Gambling
An increasing proportion of students identified financial gain as their primary gambling motivation. Specifically, 53% of student gamblers cited “making money” as their main objective, representing an increase from the 45% figure recorded in 2024.
Employment income served as the predominant funding source for gambling at 52%. Personal savings contributed 37% of gambling funds, while 21% of students acknowledged using student loan money for gambling purposes.
Sports bettors demonstrated the highest gambling frequency, placing wagers on approximately 116 days annually. Online slot machine players gambled roughly 103 days per year, while lottery participants averaged 65 days annually.
Assessment using the Problem Gambling Severity Index identified 18% of student gamblers as experiencing problematic gambling behaviors. An additional 30% fell into the moderate-risk category. Male students and those from Mixed, Black, or Asian ethnic backgrounds displayed elevated problem gambling indicators.
The 18% problem gambling rate represents an improvement from the 24% figure in 2023, indicating some positive movement in harm prevention initiatives.
Nevertheless, nearly half of student gamblers acknowledged negative impacts on their academic experience. Approximately 15% reported difficulty purchasing food. Additional consequences included missing social gatherings, lectures, or coursework deadlines. Around 6% had contemplated leaving university due to gambling-related issues.
Cryptocurrency Investment and Gaming Purchases Expand
Outside conventional gambling activities, 37% of students disclosed cryptocurrency investments. A significant gender gap exists here as well, with 51% of male students investing in crypto versus 25% of female students.
Video gaming participation reached 85%, and among gamers, 75% had bought randomized chance items such as loot boxes. This represents an increase from 66% the previous year. Over half of these students viewed loot box purchases as a gambling-related activity.
Social media platforms have emerged as an increasingly influential factor in gambling behaviors. While friends remained the primary influence at 36%, social media platforms followed closely at 34%. Researchers observed correlations between heightened digital exposure and both increased spending and more frequent gambling activity.
Gamstop documented a 40% surge in registrations from individuals aged 16-24 throughout the second half of 2025. The service now has nearly 60,000 registrants under age 25, reflecting a 75% increase over the past five years.
Fiona Palmer, CEO of Gamstop, emphasized the continued importance of self-exclusion programs. Emily Tofield, CEO of Ygam, called on universities and student organizations to address gambling-related harms with equivalent gravity to alcohol and substance abuse concerns.
During January 2026 alone, the Money Guidance Service received a record 233 referrals for gambling-related financial problems, nearly triple the January 2025 total.
