TLDR
- UK student gamblers are now losing an average of £50.33 per week, nearly double the £27.24 reported the previous year
- 65% of students gambled in the past year, down from 78% in 2022, but those still gambling are spending more
- 53% of student gamblers say their primary reason is “to make money,” up from 45% in 2024
- 37% of students surveyed reported investing in cryptocurrency, with men (51%) far outpacing women (25%)
- Gamstop registrations among 16-24 year olds jumped 40% in the second half of 2025
A new survey of 2,000 UK university students has found that those who gamble are losing an average of more than £50 per week. That figure has nearly doubled from £27.24 the year before.
The fifth annual Student Gambling Survey was conducted in December 2025 by Censuswide on behalf of gambling charity Ygam and national self-exclusion register Gamstop. It found that 65% of students had gambled at least once in the previous year.
While that participation rate has actually fallen from 78% in 2022, the students who do gamble appear to be doing so more intensely. Weekly spending, frequency of play, and financial exposure have all increased.
The National Lottery was the most popular form of gambling at 31%, followed closely by online sports betting at 29%. Sports betting showed a clear gender gap, with 41% of male students placing bets compared to 17% of female students.
Male students also spent far more on gambling overall. Men averaged £64.89 per week compared to £30.93 for women. Nearly a quarter of all student gamblers spent more than £50 weekly.
More Students Gambling to Make Money
A growing number of students said they gamble primarily to earn income. Some 53% of student gamblers said their main reason for playing was “to make money.” That was up from 45% in 2024.
The most common source of gambling funds was salary or earnings at 52%. Savings accounted for 37%, and 21% of students said they used student loans to gamble.
Sports bettors were the most frequent gamblers, placing bets on an average of 116 days per year. Online slot players gambled around 103 days annually. Lottery players averaged 65 days per year.
Using the Problem Gambling Severity Index, 18% of student gamblers were classified as experiencing problem gambling. Another 30% were rated at moderate risk. Male students and those from Mixed, Black, or Asian backgrounds reported higher problem gambling scores.
That 18% figure has actually come down from 24% in 2023, suggesting some progress in harm reduction efforts.
Still, nearly half of student gamblers said gambling had hurt their university experience. Some 15% said they had difficulty affording food. Others missed social events, lectures, or assignments. About 6% said they had considered dropping out because of gambling.
Crypto and Loot Boxes Add to the Picture
Beyond traditional gambling, 37% of students reported investing in cryptocurrency. The gender divide was sharp, with 51% of men investing in crypto compared to 25% of women.
Video gaming was widespread at 85%, and among gamers, 75% had purchased random chance items like loot boxes. That was up from 66% the year before. Over half of those students considered loot box purchases a form of gambling.
Social media has become a growing influence on gambling behavior. Friends were the top influence at 36%, but social media was close behind at 34%. Researchers noted that increased digital exposure has coincided with higher spending and more frequent gambling.
Gamstop reported a 40% increase in registrations from people aged 16-24 in the second half of 2025. Nearly 60,000 under-25s are now registered with the service, a 75% increase over five years.
Fiona Palmer, CEO of Gamstop, said self-exclusion remains an important tool. Emily Tofield, CEO of Ygam, urged universities and student unions to treat gambling harms with the same seriousness as drinking and drug use.
In January 2026 alone, a record 233 referrals were made to the Money Guidance Service for gambling-related financial issues, nearly three times the number from January 2025.
