This National Student Money Week, GAMSTOP and Ygam have released the fourth National Student Gambling Survey to help increase understanding of gambling behaviour amongst UK university students. The survey, conducted by Censuswide, asked 2,000 students about their gambling, revealing key statistics about gambling harm in this community.

The survey found that 17% of students who gamble are at high risk of gambling harm, with a further 29% at moderate risk. 4 in 10 students who gamble say their university experience has been negatively impacted. Male students are at greater risk of gambling harm, as well as gambling more frequently and with higher spend. Asian students who gamble also experience gambling harm at higher levels, with over half at high or moderate risk.

This research has identified vital opportunities to continue tackling gambling harm in higher education, highlighting the need for universities to make gambling harm education and prevention a key part of their wellbeing strategies while considering the needs of groups at higher risk. This week, GAMSTOP visited universities across the UK alongside Ygam to talk with students about gambling harm and the free support available to anyone who is struggling.

GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer said: “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. We know from the university roadshows we run with Ygam that there is an appetite amongst students to learn more about the support available, which includes self-exclusion to take a break from gambling”. 

You can read the full report here.