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