The national charities GamStop and YGAM (Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust) have revealed insights about the gambling habits and spending of university students after the survey conducted by the research agency Censuswide. This investigation showed that these students are at greater risk of potentially developing a gambling problem.
After this study which has identified that they are in danger of gambling-related problems, Gamstop and YGAM will provide a gambling education by working with RecoverMe, a mobile health application that supplies a scheme to support the problem gamblers. This initiative will not only aim to raise awareness of problem gambling but support and training will also be provided.
A High Rate of GamStop Gambling Participation
With 2,000 students across UK campuses, 80% of participants affirmed that they had gambled. 41% of the students questioned admitted that gambling negatively affected their university experiences such as social activities, missing lectures, and assignments deadlines. On this gambling activity, one-third of respondents or 35% unveiled that their bankrolls were from friends that they had borrowed, payday loans, and overdraft facilities.
One in five or 19% also assumed that they used their loans to stop GamStop and gamble which is a serious preoccupation and in some cases, the amounts of debt were over thousands of pounds. Fiona Palmer, CEO of GamStop stated: “Gambling-related harm on our campuses is a subject that is rarely addressed, but for any students experiencing problems with their gambling, self-exclusion can give them valuable breathing space whilst they seek additional help”.
She also added, “With online gambling increasingly prevalent during the pandemic, the research shows the importance of raising awareness of a free online self-exclusion service, which is accessible to all.”
Students’ Gambling Expenditure
As for the spending, according to the survey, the students’ average spending on gambling was £31.52 per week with 18% of respondents who admitted to gambling with more than £50 per week. Nonetheless, 45% of participants affirmed that they used less than £10 on a weekly basis on gambling. The gambling participation varies depending on the gamblers because four in ten or 38% told that they gambled at least once a week whereas 63% kept entertained on gambling activities at least once a month.
Further responses disclosed that more than one in three or 36% of the respondents invested in cryptocurrency during the last 12 months. The National Lottery was registered as the most popular gambling activity that was played by 32% of the surveyed students. It was followed by online sports betting with 25%, and online bingo with 18%.
Students Gambling Motivations
Based on the study, an urge to make money is the main reason to push university students to gamble. Actually, 49% affirmed that they wanted to earn money and didn’t know about gambling blockers so they turned to gamble whereas 25% affirmed that the risk of gambling is their first motivation.
Moreover, the survey feedback also revealed that the biggest influences to gamble are the friends affirmed by 34% of respondents. Apart from that, social media was also identified by 23% of participants as their main encouragement while 14% specified that the advertising is their gambling activities’ driver.
Daniel Bliss, Director of External Affairs at YGAM, affirmed: “This research provides us with some valuable insights into the behaviours of students during the pandemic. We’re keen to build on this piece of work to better understand how our programmes can safeguard and support students.
“The findings reiterate the importance of educating our young people on the risks and harms associated with gambling. Education is a powerful tool to ensure students are equipped with the knowledge and understanding to help prevent harm.”
About the Trio Project
As stated above, the trio project is the collaboration among RecoverMe, Gamstop, and YGAM to train and support students about gambling-related problems. The union of these three respectful organisations is hoped to provide better results regarding harm reduction for gambling. A ‘Gambling Support University Tour’ is implemented from which the visits to university campuses throughout the UK will be planned.
In this scheme, the students and university staff will be sensitised and taught about the harm caused by gambling. In addition to that, City & Guilds programme by YGAM will also be offered not only to assure the training to the university teams but also to support the students to schedule appointments through email jimmyparkin@ygam.org.
Adil Nayeem, Co-founder of RecoverMe, proudly said: “This research highlights how the student population can be a high-risk group for gambling-related harm. We created RecoverMe when one of our close friends at university struggled with a gambling addiction and did not know where to turn.
“RecoverMe gives students multiple strategies to manage acute urges with GamStop or GamStop alternatives and support those suffering from a gambling problem with a discreet, flexible and evidence-based programme”.