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New research shows students are borrowing money to gamble

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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.

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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.

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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 problemto 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.

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“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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The Free Bet Wheel: Betting.bet Increases Player Engagement with New Gamification Tool

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One of the UK’s leading betting aggregators, betting.bet, has introduced the Free Bet Wheel, a new free-to-play tool designed to increase user retention and interaction. Tied to the weekend’s Premier League football, this gamified feature offers users the opportunity to earn free bets and a weekly £100 cash reward.

At a time when most iGaming affiliates are focused on developing foreign markets such as Latin America and Africa, the function illustrates betting.bet’s ongoing commitment to the UK.

About the Free Bet Wheel

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  • Weekend Availability: The Free Bet Wheel runs every weekend, aligned with major Premier League and international football matches.

  • Multiple Chances to Win: Players receive up to four spins to try their luck each weekend.

  • Winning Free Bets: Match three free bet colours within five spins to win a free bet on the featured match.

  • £100 Cash Jackpot: Land on the jackpot segment five times consecutively to win £100 in cash.

  • Loyalty Rewards: Players also collect bCoins, Betting.bet’s exclusive loyalty currency, which can be redeemed for a range of prizes, vouchers and rewards.

Strengthening Operator Partnerships Through Enhanced User Experience

By launching the Free Bet Wheel, betting.bet is not only elevating the player experience but also delivering tangible benefits to its network of partner operators. The feature offers a new avenue to profile selected betting partners, direct qualified traffic to safe free bets and reinforce affiliate partnerships through increased user activity and conversions.

Steve Gummer, Director of Betting.bet, stated: “We at betting.bet are dedicated to developing products and experiences that not only interest players but also provide clear value to our partners. Designed to benefit our UK community in a fun, frictionless manner, the Free Bet Wheel also supports important weekend traffic and sportsbook conversions.”

Driving Retention Through Gamification

This launch is part of a broader strategic focus on gamification and loyalty at betting.bet, aligning user enjoyment with commercial objectives. As the UK version of the platform continues to grow, features like the Free Bet Wheel are designed to support player acquisition, maximise LTV and drive weekend re-engagement.

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The Free Bet Wheel is now live at betting.bet and available to all UK users aged 18+,

The post The Free Bet Wheel: Betting.bet Increases Player Engagement with New Gamification Tool appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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GR8 Tech Powers Smarter Betting with New Match Trackers

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GR8 Tech has unveiled a powerful new upgrade to its high-performance sportsbook platform: high-quality, real-time Match Trackers—designed to bring more action, insight, and excitement to players. Match Trackers are available across all of GR8 Tech’s sportsbook solutions, including iFrame and the Hyper Turnkey.

We’re always looking for ways to elevate the player experience and give our partners a competitive edge,” said Denys Parkhomenko, CPO at GR8 Tech. “Match Trackers have smart features that drive engagement, boost retention, and power faster betting decisions in real-time.

With broad coverage across football, basketball, tennis, hockey, volleyball, and handball, the trackers are live for pre-match analytics and in-game updates. Key features include:

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  • Detailed Stats: From xG in football to rebounds in basketball and aces in tennis, players get live and historical stats tailored to each sport.
  • Key Moments & Summaries: Goals, assists, red cards, substitutions, and more delivered in real-time.
  • Pitch Animation: A dynamic, visual alternative to video streaming, showing key moments as they unfold on the field.
  • Lineups & Live Updates: Full team sheets, coaches, and live substitutions, so players are always in the know.
  • Live Standings: Updated rankings and tournament tables across all supported sports.

By providing operators with the tools to deliver everything players need in one place, GR8 Tech enhances the sportsbook user experience, enabling more confident betting and driving longer player sessions.

The launch of Match Trackers marks another step in the company’s long-term strategy to deliver a best-in-class, sportsbook-driven platform and become the leading sportsbook provider by 2028. Coverage will soon expand to even more sports to meet operators’ needs.

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Midnite creates free limited-edition beer for fans to enjoy at World Snooker Championship

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Midnite is the new official UK betting and casino partner of the World Championship, Snooker’s greatest event, which will run from April 19 to May 5.

To celebrate the partnership, Midnite has created a FREE limited edition lager – with one free beer available per person – which will be served at a local pub throughout the tournament.

The one-off lager will be served at The Graduate, an iconic Sheffield pub a short walk from The Crucible, with fans able to enjoy a new beer on tap while the World Championship comes to the city.

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Midnite has partnered with London-based brewery Drop Project to bring the concept to life. Drop Project creates the freshest, premium flavoursome beers with consistent high-quality results, and pushes creative boundaries and brews the beers that both inspire their passions for the industry and our lifestyles.

A Midnite spokesperson, commented: “We have worked with Drop Project to bring fans a Midnite lager that they can enjoy throughout the whole tournament. We wanted to create something tangible that snooker fans can enjoy throughout, and to have been able to create our own beer is something we’re pleased with.

“The World Snooker Championship brings real excitement to the city, and fans can head straight from The Crucible, to The Graduate and enjoy a pint or two of our specially brewed lager, just for the occasion.”

Midnite is providing the beer free of charge – one free drink per person of Midnite Lager Only and for ticket holders to the Snooker World Championship (18+). Redeem by showing your matchday ticket at The Graduate. While stock lasts.

The post Midnite creates free limited-edition beer for fans to enjoy at World Snooker Championship appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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