A brief report on student gambling and how UK universities can support students
| Date | 15 June 2023 |
| Pages | 628-636 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-05-2023-0061 |
| Published date | 15 June 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
| Author | Paul McGivern,Mark Mierzwinski,Edward Stupple |
A brief report on student gambling and
how UK universities can support students
Paul McGivern, Mark Mierzwinski and Edward Stupple
Abstract
Purpose –An estimated 1.2 million students gamble, equating to approximately two in every three
students. In the UK, university students have reached the legal age to gamble; many have received
significant sums of financial support and will be responsible for managing theirown finances. Some UK
universities have acknowledged that students engage in gambling activity and the need to provide
gambling-related support. However, more research is needed to better understand student gambling
activities and how universities can optimise provision of support. The purpose of this study was to
enhancethis understanding.
Design/methodology/approach –A total of 210 university students completed an online survey to provide
details of their gambling behaviourand views on the types of support that they felt would best support students.
Findings –Both gambling and non-gambling students reported a preference for specialised gambling-
related support within student services without the requirementfor gambling-focused workshops (p<0.01).
Follow-up analysis revealed a significantly greater proportion of females did not gamble (p<0.01), that
males spent more money when gambling (p<0.01) and were higher risk gamblers than females (p<0.01).
Originality/value –These results provide evidence for gambling support to feature overtly as part of
universitysupport and well-being services.
Keywords Gambling, Problem gambling, University students, Pastoral support, Higher education
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Recent figures show that an estimated 1.2 million stu dents gamble, equating to approximately
twoineverythreestudents(
Gambling Commission, 2019a). Many factors have contributed
towards gambling becoming a more socially acceptable pastime (Celio and Li sman, 2014)
such as increased availability (The House of Lords, 2021), increased acknowledgement and
action by gambling providers regarding social responsibil ity (Gambling Commission, 2015),
advances in technology and accessibility (Drakeford, 2015) and dramatic shifts in advertising
campaigns (Binde, 2014;Abarbanel et al.,2017). Intensified pressure from gambling
regulators (The Gambling Commission, 2020a) has resulted in a growing bo dy of research
that has largely focused on prevention or protection from gambling-relate dh arm (Blaszczynski
et al., 2014;McGivern et al.,2019), the develop ment of Responsible Gambling (RG) devices,
improving policy and legislation (Gainsbury et al.,2014;The Gambling Commission, 2019b)
and the creation of data-tracking systems (Chagas and Gomes, 2017). However, despite the
benefits of such initiatives, many people still suffer from unaffordable monetary lo sses and
wider gambling-related issues that have a detrimental impact not just on their own health and
well-being (Messerlian and Byrne, 2004) but also on the personal lives of those around them
(Holdsworth et al., 2013).
The UK is among the most liberal of countries with regards to gambling la w (Rohsler, 2022),
and the Gambling Commission continuously develops increasingl y robust policies to protect
gamblers. However, student gambling has received increased focus among key stake holders
Paul McGivern is based at
the School of Psychology
and Therapeutic Studies,
Leeds Trinity University,
Leeds, UK.
Mark Mierzwinski is based
at the School of Science,
Technology and Health,
York St John University,
York, UK.
Edward Stupple is based at
the School of Psychology,
University of Derby, Derby,
UK.
The authors would like to thank
the reviewers and the partici-
pants who took part in the
study.
Research funding: No funding
was received for this study.
Ethics: This study received
ethical approval from university
ethics committee (Ref:
180821).
PAGE 628 jMENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION jVOL. 28 NO. 5 2024, pp. 628-636, ©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/MHSI-05-2023-0061
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