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New research shows students are borrowing money to gamble
More than one in three university students who gamble are borrowing money to do so, new research has revealed.
A survey of 2,000 students across the UK found that 80% of them have gambled and 41% of this group admit that gambling has had a negative impact on their university experience, including missing lectures, assignment deadlines and social activities.
More than one third (35%) are using money either from their student loan, overdraft, have borrowed from friends or are taking out payday loans to help fund their gambling. Nearly one in five (19%) admit to using their student loan to gamble.
The independent research, conducted by Censuswide, was jointly commissioned by GAMSTOP, the national online self-exclusion scheme, and The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM), a charity that educates and safeguards vulnerable people against gaming and gambling-related harms.
The mean gambling spend for students is £31.52 per week and almost one in five (18%) admit to spending more than £50 per week, although 45% say they spend no more than £10 a week. Nearly four in ten (38%) say they gamble at least once a week, with 63% gambling at least once a month.
More than one in four (28%) say they are gambling as often, or more often, than before the pandemic and 29% say they are spending as much or more than they did before the pandemic. The most popular gambling products during the pandemic have been the National Lottery (32%), online sports betting (25%) and online bingo (18%).
Almost half the students who gamble (46%) say that making money is a motivation – the most common reason given – and one in four (25%) say they enjoy the risk. More than half (52%) say that gambling makes them feel excited and one in three (33%) say it makes them happy, compared to one in five (21%) who describe feeling anxious.
Amongst students who gamble, more than one in three (36%) have invested in cryptocurrency in the last 12 months – compared to just 17% of students who do not gamble.
Students also revealed that their friends are the biggest influence on their gambling (34%) with nearly one in four (23%) most influenced by social media and 14% of students identifying gambling advertising as a key influence on their gambling.
The new research on student gambling is the first published since the pandemic and follows previous research commissioned by YGAM in 2019. The previous report produced by Red Brick Research found that 264,000 students in the UK were at some risk from gambling harm with around 88,000 already defined as problem gamblers.
Following the publication of the report, YGAM are joining forces with GAMSTOP and RecoverMe, an app that provides self-help tools to those suffering from a gambling problem, to launch a campaign raising awareness of gambling harms amongst students and promoting support available to students who may be struggling. During the ‘Gambling Support University Tour’ the three organisations will visit university campuses throughout the UK to speak to students and university staff. YGAM will also be offering City & Guilds assured training to the university teams to better equip them to support their students. A ‘Gambling Support University Tour’ visit can be arranged by contacting [email protected]
Bray Ash, 29, is studying mental health nursing at King’s College London, having previously studied at Leeds University and has experienced gambling harms first-hand while in higher education. He told how easy it was to get caught up in gambling.
“When you go to university for the first time and you have student finance, money from your parents and other financial support you can be tempted to gamble recklessly. It took over my life – I wasn’t studying, I was just sitting in my halls gambling. At my second year of university, I ended up gambling away my student loan in the first 24 hours.
“It is important that students have access to organisations, such as YGAM, to educate them about gambling and provide support and that they are aware of essential tools such as self-exclusion if they are experiencing problems with their gambling. I know that it would have benefited me when I was at my lowest point”.
Daniel Bliss, Director of External Affairs at YGAM, said: “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.”
Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, said: “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. 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”.
Adil Nayeem, Co-founder of RecoverMe, 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 and support those suffering from a gambling problem with a discreet, flexible and evidence-based programme”.
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GR8 Tech has successfully closed the year – a 25% year-on-year increase in turnover, dozens of new clients signed, and a significant boost in client revenue. Throughout the year, the company developed nearly 200 new features and improvements, continually enhancing the functionality of its platform. With over 12.4 billion bets placed in 2024 (a 125% increase year-on-year), GR8 Tech has proven its ability to scale and deliver consistent performance, even during the busiest events.
“Our primary focus in 2024 was to empower operators with tools for seamless platform customization and streamlined management. We introduced geo-specific solutions that enable faster market launches, adapting platforms to meet local demands—whether through bonus mechanics, payment methods, or tailored content for sportsbook and casino. At the same time, we strengthened our offerings with enhanced sportsbook features, new games in the casino vertical, and innovative gamification mechanics to drive player engagement,” said Denys Parkhomenko, Chief Product Officer at GR8 Tech.
GR8 Tech demonstrated its robust scalability by handling 21.5 million bets during the IPL 2024 alone. With the capacity to process 20,000 bets and 54,000 wallet transactions per second, the platform consistently performs even during high-traffic periods.
In 2024, GR8 Tech signed numerous long-term partnerships, bringing its total number of projects worldwide to 45+ and proving the growing demand for customizable iGaming solutions. The company also received industry-wide acclaim, securing multiple prestigious awards, such as Silver as the Best Platform Provider of the Year at SBC Awards, “Best Online Sportsbook Provider” at SiGMA Eurasia, “Best Workplace” at SiGMA Americas, and “Rising Star Provider of the Year” at the Affpapa iGaming Awards 2024.
Building on its achievements, GR8 Tech is set for another successful year, continuing to deliver industry-leading solutions for operators around the world.
“Improvement and excellence are about consistently staying ahead. A trend might emerge and then disappear tomorrow, but improving your product – making it better than the competition – has lasting value. Whether it’s through better personalization, risk management, recommendations, or any other aspect, improvement is essential. And in this industry, you don’t really have a choice. It’s so fast-paced that if something new and valuable appears, you need to adopt it immediately. The mindset of constant improvement is what keeps a product relevant and competitive,” said Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech.
GR8 Tech heads into 2025 with a continued commitment to driving high-performance results, leading industry trends, and challenging the norm.
The post The Power of High Performance: GR8 Tech Achieves 25% Turnover Growth in 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Expanding into new markets and unveiling innovative products, SOFTSWISS, a leading tech company with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, looks back on the milestones of its anniversary year.
Tech Achievements
This year, SOFTSWISS enriched its portfolio with three new products: the Lotto Software, the Retail Betting Solution, and a Horse Racing module integrated into the Sportsbook. These new products give operators flexible and secure tools to expand their lottery and betting services.
With over 23,500 games from more than 280 providers, the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator has become the largest game hub in the industry. Equipped with unique player engagement tools, it supports over 1,200 iGaming brands, setting a benchmark for innovation and scale.
Uniting Expertise and Efforts for Global Impact
By acquiring a majority stake in South Africa’s Turfsport, SOFTSWISS is combining the expertise of both companies to provide top-tier iGaming solutions in the African region. Securing a significant share in Germany’s Ously Games, the driving force behind the rapidly growing European social casino SpinArena.net, has opened a new niche for SOFTSWISS in the promising social entertainment market.
SOFTSWISS welcomed Formula 1 legend Rubens Barrichello as its Non-Executive Director for LatAm, bolstering the company’s presence in the Brazilian market. By merging expertise from two dynamic industries – iGaming and racing – SOFTSWISS delivers unparalleled insights to drive boundless business growth for its clients.
Amid the devastating floods in Brazil, SOFTSWISS launched the ‘Help Brazil’ campaign, rallying industry players to support those in need. The initiative gained widespread backing from the iGaming media and was honoured as the Socially Responsible Initiative of the Year at the SBC Latinoamérica Awards.
Celebrating 15 Years of Excellence
Marking its 15th year in the iGaming industry with significant achievements, SOFTSWISS honoured this milestone with the Grand Anniversary party. The event took place in Lisbon and united around 600 guests.
SOFTSWISS team also celebrated gaining 22 industry accolades in 2024. Software Supplier, Best Platform Provider, Aggregator of the Year, Crypto Company of the Year, Affiliate Software Supplier, Innovation in iGaming Technology, and Responsible Gaming Award – to name just a few in product categories.
Andrey Starovoitov, Co-CEO at SOFTSWISS, summarises: “New Year’s Eve is a time-honoured moment for reflecting, celebrating achievements, and learning from challenges. At this moment, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, clients, and our incredible team, whose dedication and hard work made this year truly remarkable.”
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post Biggest Game Portfolio and 3 New Products: SOFTSWISS 2024 Overview appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
PopOK Gaming announced the launch of Papai Noel da Fortuna, the latest holiday-themed slot game. Just in time for the season of joy, this exciting release captures the magic of Christmas and New Year with festive fun, dazzling rewards, and immersive gameplay.
Step into a winter wonderland where Santa Claus himself takes center stage, filling the reels with sparkling ornaments, golden bells, and overflowing gift bags. With Papai Noel da Fortuna, every spin is a celebration of holiday cheer and fortune.
Game Highlights That Deliver the Festive Spirit:
Respin Until Win: Triggered randomly, this feature locks matching symbols on the first and third reels to guarantee a win.
x10 Multiplier: Achieve identical symbols or Wilds across a reel to boost your win by 10 times.
Enchanting Visuals & Festive Soundtrack: Dive into a magical holiday atmosphere led by Santa himself.
Max Win Potential: Unwrap rewards of up to 2000x your total bet!
Crafted with stunning graphics, cheerful holiday music, and engaging mechanics, Papai Noel da Fortuna ensures an unforgettable gaming experience for players, making it the ultimate slot game for the festive season.
Celebrate the holidays in style with PopOK Gaming’s Papai Noel da Fortuna. Unwrap the fun, spin the reels, and let the season of giving bring you spectacular rewards.
Stay tuned for more updates from PopOK Gaming, and don’t miss your chance to experience the magic of Papai Noel da Fortuna.
The holiday adventure starts now!
The post PopOK Gaming Brings Festive Cheer with the Release of “Papai Noel da Fortuna” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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