University students who gamble are losing an average of £53 a week

London, 30 March 2026: University students are losing over £50 a week on average, a rise of nearly 50% in the past year, the latest Annual Student Gambling Survey has revealed.  

Now in its fifth year, the survey is the most comprehensive research of its kind, jointly commissioned by Ygam and Gamstop, and includes responses from 2,000 university students across the UK. It found that 65% have gambled in the past 12 months, rising to 75% among male students.  

Nearly 1 in 5 students who gamble (18%) are experiencing gambling harms, increasing to 20% amongst male students and 23% among Asian and Mixed ethnicity students. Almost half of students who gamble (46%) report that it has negatively affected their university experience. As a result of their gambling, 15% of student gamblers are struggling to afford food, while 10% are finding it difficult to pay for accommodation or other essential bills.

The mean weekly gambling spend amongst students, defined as the overall amount staked and lost, subtracting any wins has increased from £27.24 to £50.33. This compares to around £33.70 a week spent on groceries, according to last year’s National Student Money Survey, suggesting some students are spending significantly more on gambling than on food.  

Gender divide in student gambling  

The research identifies a significant gender divide when it comes to student gambling. Male students are more likely to gamble than females and mean spending by male students who gamble is more than double that of females. Four out of ten male students take part in online sports betting, which is the second most popular type of gambling in the UK behind the National Lottery, compared to 17% of female students. On average, students who bet on sports online place a bet around every three days.  

Over half of student gamblers (53%) report that their primary motivation is to make money, making it the most common reason given. This comes as the rising cost of living continues to put pressure on household budgets, with students among those most affected. 

Social media is becoming an increasingly influential factor 

More than one in three (34%) students who gamble now say social media is a key influence on their gambling. This trend has increased significantly – in 2022, fewer than one in four cited it as an influence. Other key influences on student gambling include friends, sporting events, offers from gambling operators, and advertising across TV, radio, social media, and streaming platforms. 

The report shows increased awareness among students, in part due to the work of Ygam and Gamstop. Last March, Ygam launched the ‘Silence the Stigma’ campaign in partnership with NUS Charity, encouraging students to recognise the signs of gambling harm among their peers and start open conversations to break down stigma around the issue. Nearly six out of ten (58%) students who gamble say they are aware of the gambling support available, while nearly seven out of ten (69%) say they are confident in accessing it. 

Five-year trend analysis  

To mark the fifth edition of this annual survey, an accompanying analysis report has been published, examining trends across all previous studies and drawing on insights from more than 10,000 university students.  

This analysis shows gambling participation among students has fallen from 78% in 2022 to 65% in 2026 and the proportion of students experiencing gambling harms has fallen from 24% in 2023 to 18% in 2026.  

However, the average weekly gambling spend among student gamblers has increased by more than £16, outpacing inflation, while more students say their main motivation for gambling is to make money. 

Thomas’ story 

Thomas Curtis, 27, experienced gambling harms while studying History at the University of Liverpool. It had a devastating impact on his mental health and ultimately contributed to him dropping out of his degree. Thomas is now a Training and Engagement Manager at Ygam using his lived experience to educate and safeguard future generations.  

“My gambling spiralled out of control when I was a student. I was gambling alone in my room, missing lectures and spending days without speaking to anyone. I was regularly gambling my student loan, and at my worst, I was gambling tens of thousands of pounds a month. Eventually, I was just gambling to pass the time and I became extremely withdrawn and isolated.

 

It was the first time in my life that I had suicidal thoughts, because I couldn’t envision a future without gambling. I felt so ashamed that I couldn’t speak to anyone about it, including my family. Eventually, I was kicked off my course for not completing my work because of my gambling. That was my absolute rock bottom, and I knew I couldn’t carry on living like this.

 

Thankfully, I got the support and help I needed. Now I dedicate my career to educating others about gambling harms and raising awareness. My advice to any student struggling with gambling at university is to talk to someone, whether that’s a friend, a family member, or student support services. There is support out there, and no one should have to suffer in silence like I did.”

Emily Tofield, CEO of Ygam, said:                                                        

“University should be an exciting and fulfilling experience, yet our comprehensive research has consistently shown that the students are particularly vulnerable to gambling harms. It’s clear that the digital world students are so immersed in is increasingly influencing gambling behaviours, and we must all be responsive to these new and emerging risks to ensure students have access to the education and support needed to safeguard them. Ygam is urging universities and student unions to recognise and address gambling harms with the same focus and seriousness as other commonly discussed risky behaviours, including drinking and drug use.”

Fiona Palmer, CEO of The Gamstop Group, said: 

“The Annual Student Gambling Survey reveals a worrying lack of awareness about the risks of gambling in the student community and the impact on students who struggle to control their gambling, but it is encouraging to see more awareness of the support available. Self-exclusion is an important tool and nearly 60,000 under-25s are registered with Gamstop – a 75% increase over the last five years – which shows that younger people are recognising the importance of taking back control of their gambling”.