Binging on Betting: 10% of Students Spend More on Casinos Than Food
UK University Men: 10% Spend More on Gambling Than Nutrition Expenses
Updated on: 29.04.2025
In a staggering revelation, the gambling self-exclusion organization Gamstop has published a new study. According to this shocking report, one in ten male students in the UK are forking out a substantial amount of their weekly income on online casinos and sports betting, an amount that often surpasses their food budget.
Disregarding Essentials: Prioritizing Gambling Over Nutrition
The study, based on Censuswide's annual Student Gambling Survey, reveals that the gambling habits among students are alarmingly on the rise. Approximately 10% of male students splash out between £51 and £100 weekly on gambling, with the average expenditure for all male students standing at £33.54. However, this figure is somewhat misleading, as many students spend significantly less or nothing at all on gambling.
The reason behind this startling statistic? Money that could have been used for essentials like food is being squandered on gambling. The CEO of Gamstop, Fiona Palmer, commented on this concerning situation:
Although gambling at universities has marginally decreased, the risk of gambling addiction among students remains significantly higher than in the general population. Education and support is essential to help students understand the potential consequences of their actions.
Throwing Caution (and Money) to the Wind
The study further revealed that nearly half of all student gamblers are spending more money than they can genuinely afford. A whopping 17% of respondents are at a high risk of developing a gambling addiction, with online sports betting being particularly popular. On average, 25% of male students make wagers on 91 days a year.
In addition, a recent study by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) demonstrated that many Britons resort to gambling as a means of escaping their daily lives.
Gamstop Sounds the Alarm on Loot Boxes and Crypto Investments
Gamstop has also flagged concerns around the link between loot boxes and gambling expenditure among British students. The survey findings suggest that approximately half of students view random in-game purchases (loot boxes) as gambling. Furthermore, 66% of respondents have already invested in loot boxes in various games.
In the past year, 21% of respondents have also dabbled in cryptocurrency investments, with male students investigating this risky venture twice as often as their female counterparts.
With universities failing to address this serious issue adequately, Gamstop is advocating for more education and support in this sphere. By raising awareness about the risks and consequences of problem gambling, they hope to stem the tide of this growing trend among students.
- Britons, particularly students, are prioritizing gambling over essential expenditures such as food, with one in ten male students spending more on casinos and sports betting than their food budget.
- The average weekly expenditure on gambling for male students, according to a study by Gamstop, is £33.54, but many spend significantly more.
- The CEO of Gamstop, Fiona Palmer, emphasizes the need for education and support to help students understand the potential consequences of their gambling actions, as the risk of addiction among students remains higher than in the general population.
- Beyond traditional gambling, Gamstop has raised concerns about loot boxes, randomly purchased in-game items, which are viewed as gambling by approximately half of students, and cryptocurrency investments, with 21% of students dabbling in this risky venture, particularly male students.
