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New research shows a quarter of all students who gamble may be experiencing harm

Published

2 years ago

February 27, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

One in four students who gamble may be experiencing harm and one in two say that gambling has affected their university experience, new research has found.

The survey of 2,000 students across the UK revealed that 71% had gambled in the last 12 months. Amongst those students who had gambled in the previous year, 28% were found to be at ‘moderate risk’ and 24% had behaviour categorised as ‘problem gambling’.

The independent research carried out by Censuswide is a follow up to last year’s survey commissioned by education charity Ygam and GAMSTOP, the national online self-exclusion service.

This year the survey included the Short-form PGSI – a widely used measure of ‘problem gambling’ in the UK population – which enabled the researchers to understand the level of risk experienced by students in the sample.

Half of all respondents reported that gambling had impacted their university experience, with 13% having trouble paying for food, 10% missing lectures and tutorials, 10% saying gambling affected their assignments and grades, and 9% struggling to pay bills or for accommodation. Despite this, 45% of those who gamble were unaware of the support available to them from their universities.

Almost one in two students who gamble (48%) say they gamble to make money, but only 11% report winning money in an average week. One in three say they spend £11-£20 per week on gambling; nearly one in four (23%) spend £21-£50; and 13% spend £51-£100. 4.5%, say they gamble because they are unable to stop.

Along with savings and their own earnings, some students are borrowing money to fund their gambling, with 8% borrowing from family and friends and 6% using payday loans.

More than 40% of students have bought cryptocurrency in the last year, which is much higher than the figure for the overall population. This is perhaps not surprising given the age profile of the student population, but in a year when cryptocurrency prices plunged this may have impacted the overall financial wellbeing of this group.

The full report has been published today and includes the results of questions asked both to respondents who had gambled in the last 12 months as well as those who had not. The questions to the latter group were rephrased to further understand their view on gambling behaviour and attitudes amongst their friends.

The report makes three key recommendations:

Invest in universal prevention education in schools to help prepare young people to be resilient to the risks related to gambling before their transition to university.
Gambling harms to be considered as part of every university’s health and wellbeing strategy.
Further research to be conducted to better understand the experiences of students who gamble and how harms can be better prevented.

Dr Jane Rigbye, Chief Executive Officer at Ygam said:

“These findings give us insight into the attitudes and behaviours of students towards gambling. Building on the data published last year, we can now see that not only are a large percentage of the student population gambling on a regular basis, many of them are doing so in a way that may cause them to experience harm.

“The data further emphasises the importance of educating our young people on the risks associated with gambling. We’re working with our partners to tour university campuses across the UK to speak to students, deliver specialist training to university staff and to raise awareness. It is crucial that universities engage and take this issue seriously. We aim to work closely with many more universities to ensure they can help prevent the harms and support their students when they need it.”

Bray Ash, 29, who spent many years battling a gambling addiction as a student and is now studying to become a Mental Health nurse, said:

“For many, the research commissioned by GAMSTOP & Ygam will come as a surprise. However, for me it’s a reminder of the seriousness and proximity to gambling addiction that students face on a daily basis. During my time at university, I dealt with a severe gambling addiction that saw me confined to my room for days at a time. I spent my time in my room, alone and isolated, gambling day and night. I only left my room to buy food and on the odd occasion, I would see a friend.

“Propped up by the money from my student loan, I was able to fall into a gambling addiction that spiralled out of control until one day I managed to work up the courage to talk to my friends and family about it and get myself into rehab. At the time when I was first going through university, resources like GAMSTOP weren’t around. Now that they are and they are helping thousands of students, it’s always one of my first recommendations to anyone who feels that they might be experiencing gambling harms.”

Latest News

The Countries with the Most Interest in Gambling

Published

1 hour ago

February 28, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

A new analysis by gambling experts Casino Deps has revealed the countries with the highest levels of interest in gambling, ranked by their average monthly search volumes per 100,000 people. The findings provide a fascinating glimpse into the global appetite for gambling, highlighting regional trends and cultural influences that have contributed to their heightened interest.

The countries with the most interest in gambling

Rank	Country	Population	Total Average Monthly Search Volume	Total Average Monthly Search Volume Per 100,000
1	Netherlands	18,092,524	156,480	864.89
2	Malta	532,956	2,050	384.65
3	Sweden	10,551,494	40,530	384.12
4	Poland	38,762,844	145,940	376.49
5	Denmark	5,948,136	21,780	366.17
6	Iceland	387,558	1,400	361.24
7	Singapore	5,789,090	19,980	345.13
8	Norway	5,519,167	18,570	336.46
9	New Zealand	5,172,836	16,070	310.66
10	Lithuania	2,854,099	8,580	300.62

The Netherlands takes the top spot, with an average of 864.89 monthly searches per 100,000 people. Dutch citizens exhibit the highest relative interest in gambling out of any country in the world. This heightened interest is likely due to The Netherlands’ liberal approach to gambling regulation and the popularity of online casinos.

The term “Online casino” was the most searched term in The Netherlands, with an average monthly search volume of 75,000, followed by “Casino games” and “Online gambling”, both with 21,000 monthly searches.

Malta ranks second, with an average of 384.65 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Despite Malta’s small population of just over half a million, Maltese residents’ interest in gambling reflects the country’s status as a hub for the online gaming industry, hosting many gambling operators and licensing authorities due to its favourable tax laws.

Search data shows a relatively even distribution of interest across different game types, with “Poker,” “Roulette,” and “Blackjack” each averaging a monthly total of 250-300 searches.

Sweden places third, with an average of 384.12 monthly searches per 100,000 people. Sweden’s regulated online gambling market and cultural acceptance contribute to residents’ high interest in gambling.

“Online casino” has the highest average monthly search volume in Sweden at 11,000, while the 3,700 average monthly searches for “Free spins” suggests a specific interest in online casino promotions.

Ranking fourth is Poland, with an average of 376.49 monthly searches per 100,000 people. Poland’s gambling laws have become more accommodating in recent years, which has contributed to a heightened interest in online betting and casino platforms.

With 40,000 average monthly searches, “Blackjack” is by far the most popular casino game in Poland, ranking significantly higher than “Poker” and “Roulette” with 16,000 and 15,000 searches, respectively.

Denmark places fifth, with 366.17 average monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Denmark’s heightened interest in gambling is reflected in the country’s well-regulated gaming market that ensures safe and accessible gambling options for its residents.

“Poker” is the most searched term in Denmark with 4,900 average monthly searches, ranking higher than the leading term across all countries, “Online casino”, with just 3,500.

Ranking sixth is Iceland, with an average of 361.24 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Iceland’s relatively high interest gambling is likely due to limited access to local establishments, pushing people toward online casinos.

“Blackjack” is the most popular search term in Iceland, with an average monthly search volume of 350.

In seventh place is Singapore, with 345.13 average monthly searches per 100,000 people. The largest country in the top 10 in terms of residents, with a population of 5.8 million, Singapore’s affinity with gambling can be attributed to the popularity of integrated resorts such as Marina Bay Sands.

Unlike most countries, “Baccarat” is the top search term among citizens of Singapore, with an average monthly search volume of 4,600. Norway ranks eighth, with 336.46 average monthly searches per 100,000 people. Norway has a strict state-controlled monopoly on the gambling industry, with only two legal operators, Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto. The restrictive nature of the gambling industry pushes Norwegians to seek out more diverse experiences, despite the government’s best efforts to block these sites.

“Poker” is the casino game that Norwegians are most interested in, with an average monthly search volume of 7,500.

Ranking ninth is New Zealand, with 310.66 searches per 100,000 people. Widespread cultural acceptance, along with the country’s rich sporting heritage popularity and of sports betting activity, drives gambling interest in New Zealand.

“Blackjack” with 3,100 average monthly searches, and “Roulette” with 1,800, both rank above “Poker”, with just 1,600, as the casino games residents are most interested in.

Rounding out the top 10 is Lithuania, with 300.62 average monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Lithuania only recently fully regulated its online gambling market, with key changes occurring on July 1 2022, when it became possible to obtain a dedicated online gambling license without needing to have land-based venues. These changes have likely contributed to the surge in interest surrounding the industry.

“Poker” is the most popular search term with an average monthly search volume of 2,000, followed by “Free spins” with 1,300, as residents look toward online casinos to secure the best promotions.

Amanda Wilson, CMO of Casino Deps commented on the study, “This analysis sheds light on how cultural attitudes, population size, and regulatory environments shape gambling interest across the globe.

“Countries like the Netherlands and Malta, with supportive gambling industries, naturally rank high, while nations with restrictions, such as Norway and Iceland, exhibit high relative interest due to seeking out alternatives outside their respective economies.”

The post The Countries with the Most Interest in Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Playson cranks up the heat in 3 Chillies and Joker: Hold and Win

Published

1 hour ago

February 28, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Purple chillies unlock an additional game field in an exciting first for the award-winning slot studio

Playson, the renowned digital entertainment supplier, is ready to grant sizzling rewards in its latest release 3 Chillies and Joker: Hold and Win, with the fiery title elevating bonus play with a trio of eye-catching features.

Set against the backdrop of a toasty campfire, Playson’s iconic jester marks his return accompanied by lavish chilli Bonus and Jackpot symbols and an array of classic fruit icons.

Scorching yellow, purple and green chillies take centre stage, holding the key to the title’s coveted bonus game with each offering varied features to maximise player’s chances of securing sizeable returns.

All chilli icons that land during base play are collected by their corresponding chilli sat above the reels, whilst the combination of chilli bonus symbols gathered determine the feature awarded.

In an exciting first for Playson, the Double Chillie feature represented by the purple chilli, sees an additional game field added during the Bonus Game, with all Bonus and Jackpot symbols that land immediately added to the second game field. Fortunate players who fill the 15 cells on both fields will see them score a mouth-watering double 1,000x Grand Jackpot.

The Extra Chillie feature, belonging to the yellow chilli, sees the number of respins during the Bonus Game increased to four with each new bonus symbol resetting the number of free spins. Green chillies unlock the Multi Chillie feature which sees multipliers as high as 5x added to the reels with multipliers that hit the same cell collectively gathered for an increased chance of fiery rewards.

The title’s bonus game is further boosted by a series of in-game jackpots with purple, blue and green labelled chillies reflecting mini, minor and major jackpots offering rewards up to 100x.

3 Chillies and Joker: Hold and Win reinforces Playson’s commitment to enhancing its games portfolio with more features and experiences for players to enjoy worldwide.

Tamas Kusztos, CCO at Playson, said: “We’re delighted to bring 3 Chillies and Joker: Hold and Win to market with its inspired bonus game elevating game play with the chance to unlock a dual game field and double Grand Jackpot of 1,000x.

“Stunning graphics and audio blend perfectly with the return of our iconic joker and we are confident our classic approach with meticulously designed features will lead to thrilling gameplay for players.”

The post Playson cranks up the heat in 3 Chillies and Joker: Hold and Win appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Fast Track has shifted its online presence to fasttrack.ai

Published

1 hour ago

February 28, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Fast Track has migrated the company’s digital presence to a new domain: fasttrack.ai.

Please note that all employees, official communications, and company news will now be sent from email addresses ending in @fasttrack.ai. If you are a partner, currently in communication with us, or planning to get in touch, please update your records to ensure you continue receiving timely and relevant information.

For more information, please visit fasttrack.ai.

The post Fast Track has shifted its online presence to fasttrack.ai appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.