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New Research Shows Nearly Half of Student Gamblers are Gambling More than they can Afford
Nearly one in two university students who gamble say they are staking more than they can afford, the latest Annual Student Gambling Survey has revealed.
The survey of 2,000 students across the United Kingdom found that student gamblers are losing £35.25 a week on average. To fund their gambling, 32% are dipping into their savings, 23% are using their student loan, 10% are using money from their parents and, concerningly, 8% are using their overdraft.
The findings have been released after the government announced that 18 to 24-year-olds will be limited to a maximum £2 per spin for online slots. Gambling operators will perform ‘passive’ checks on players with a net loss above £125 each month or £500 per year.
The survey also incorporated the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) to measure at-risk gambling behaviour. It revealed 28% of students who gamble are at ‘moderate risk’ with 21% in the ‘problem gambling’ category.
The independent research, in its third year, was jointly commissioned by GAMSTOP, the national online self-exclusion scheme, and Ygam, a leading education charity that delivers harm prevention programmes aimed at safeguarding children and young people against gaming and gambling harms.
Six out of ten students say they have gambled in the last twelve months and 48% of that group admit they have staked more than they can afford in that period. Nearly half of those who gamble say they do it to make money (46%) and one in four enjoy the risk (24%).
Friends remain the biggest influence on student gambling (34%) followed closely by sports events (26%) and social media (25%). This demonstrates the need to educate young people on safer gambling habits. Four out of ten have been criticised by other people for their gambling or have been told they are gambling too much and more than half admit feeling guilty about their gambling.
Gambling also has wider implications with 46% saying it has affected their university experience including trouble paying for food, attempting to access hardship loans and missing social activities and work deadlines. One in 16 student gamblers reported that they have deferred or considered dropping out of university due to their gambling.
Over the past twelve months GAMSTOP and Ygam have visited more than 30 university campuses across the United Kingdom to raise awareness of gambling harms among students and the support that is available. Ygam has also delivered training to university and student union staff. Reassuringly, 60% of students say they feel comfortable accessing university gambling support; an increase on last year.
The survey has been published immediately after National Student Money Week 2024, which was themed ‘Less Risk, More Reward – Maintaining your Financial Wellbeing at University’ and included advice on risky behaviours such as gambling.
This year’s research also investigated student attitudes to spending money on microtransactions in video games. Critics argue that monetised features such as loot boxes share clear similarities with traditional forms of gambling. While 70% of student gamers have paid real money for these random chance items in games, only 51% recognise this as gambling.
“Whilst millions of people gamble safely and without harm, we know that young adults can be more vulnerable to gambling related harms, which is why we recently introduced online slot limits specifically for 18 to 24-year-olds,” Stuart Andrew MP, Gambling Minister, said. “Alongside this, we are introducing a host of measures this year that will better protect young people from gambling harms including financial risk checks, tighter controls on advertising, and marketing and a statutory levy on gambling operators.”
“This is the third year that we have run research and insights into the student gambling landscape, which underpins our Gambling Support University Tour, educating students about gambling risk and signposting them to support,” the Chief Executive Officer for GAMSTOP, Fiona Palmer, said. “We have seen a significant spike in the number of young people registering for self-exclusion, with 16 to 24-year-olds making up around in one in four of GAMSTOP registrants, and this shows the importance of educating them about risk before they develop a problem.”
“Since last year’s report, students have faced increased financial strain amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis,” the Chief Executive Officer for Ygam, Dr Jane Rigbye, said. “Despite a notable decrease in gambling participation rates among students over the past three years, problem gambling prevalence rates remain stable, significantly higher than those in the general population. We know the multifaceted harms associated with gambling extend beyond financial implications and any level of harm is unacceptable.
“With gambling seemingly entrenched in university culture and participated in by the majority of students, the importance of our educational programmes with students and universities cannot be overstated. There is a growing demand for our training and resources from universities that recognise the necessity of implementing harm prevention measures. We encourage all those working in university settings to work to implement harm prevention strategies on campus and we are ready to support them to do this effectively.”
Censuswide surveyed 2,000 university students in the United Kingdom (18+) with a 50/50 gender split from December 8 to December 20, 2023.
If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s gambling, the National Gambling Support Network provides free help and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have care or influence over a child or young person and want more information about gambling harms and how to prevent them, you can register for a free online workshop through www. Ygam. org.
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ELA Games Welcomes Ewa Kaźmierska As MD
ELA Games, a pioneering game supplier studio, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ewa Kaźmierska as Managing Director. This strategic leadership hire marks a pivotal moment in the studio’s journey, positioning ELA Games for accelerated growth and increased market penetration within the competitive iGaming sector.
Ewa brings over 15 years of senior leadership expertise, having successfully steered a game studio through periods of sustained growth and innovation. Her proven track record as a former Chief Executive Officer at multiple iGaming brands will be instrumental in driving ELA Games’ ambitious roadmap. Ewa’s appointment aligns with the studio’s commitment to excellence and reinforces its mission to deliver an exceptional portfolio that resonates across global markets.
ELA Games is gearing up for an impactful 2025, with Ewa at the helm to guide the studio’s expansion strategy. Her leadership will support the studio’s initiatives in establishing a strong market presence and enhancing product development to meet evolving industry demands.
Ewa commented on her new role, stating, “Joining ELA Games presents an incredible opportunity to lead a talented team with a clear vision for growth and innovation. ELA Games has the potential to become a leading force in the industry, and I am excited to contribute to its journey toward building a unique and influential gaming portfolio.”
The addition of Ewa Kaźmierska to ELA Games’ executive team underscores the studio’s dedication to robust growth and strategic excellence. With this leadership move, ELA Games is poised to strengthen its position as a premier game supplier in the iGaming landscape.
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Week 45/2024 slot games releases
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Tom Horn Gaming invites bold adventurers to join Max Gold, the fearless explorer, as he delves deep into faraway lands, seeking hidden treasures, legendary jackpots, and mysteries waiting to be uncovered. With an array of exciting features, including the Hold & Win bonus game with jackpots and respins, shatter mode with increasing multipliers, stake booster, and bonus buy, Max Gold.
PopOK Gaming is thrilled to announce the release of its newest slot game, Spinosaurus – a captivating 3×5 slot that transports players back to the thrilling age of dinosaurs! With vibrant, colorful visuals and dynamic gameplay, Spinosaurus features the iconic, mighty dinosaur as your guide on an adventurous quest for massive wins. Players can immerse themselves in prehistoric excitement while aiming for incredible rewards.
Belatra Games has launched its pirate-themed title, Tortuga Codex. This 5×4 slot casts players on a journey on the hunt for untold riches buried on a mysterious island. A Skull symbol acts as the Wild and will substitute for any other symbol to increase the chances of a win. An intriguing element to the game lies in the Additional Reel feature which sits above the main frame. It’s in sync with the main reels, displaying Wild symbols, special pirate icons, and numbers from one to nine.
Vibra Gaming has unwrapped its latest release, Candy Loop, where if players trigger the Candy Round bonus they can max their win by up to 5000x in a game for all sweet-toothed slot fans. Set within a backdrop of clouds and sugar players will lap up this delicious classic three-stepper slot mechanic packed with sweet bonuses, free spins and wilds.
Zillion Games is thrilled to announce the release of Egypt’s Moon, a high-volatility slot that invites players to journey through the mysteries of ancient Egypt under a mesmerizing nighttime sky. Featuring Cleopatra, hidden treasures, and the essence of Egypt’s rich mythology, Egypt’s Moon promises an enthralling experience set against a captivating backdrop. This slot game offers players 25 paylines and an RTP of 96.75%, delivering both excitement and reward.
Having made a big splash with its popular Aqua Lord slot back in 2022, innovative software developer, Swintt, is preparing to dive beneath the waves once more in an action-packed sequel that now features new and improved Pearl Respins and even bigger prizes. Played out across five reels and ten fixed paylines, Aqua Lord 2 picks up where its predecessor left off by once again plunging players into a world of sunken treasures where sticky pearl symbols hold the key to unlocking huge wins of up to 6,000x the bet and two incredibly rewarding features.
Amusnet has released Extra Crown Dice. This latest addition to Amusnet’s online casino portfolio is a majestic dice slot filled with thrilling features. This 5-reel, 10 fixed lines dice game is based on one of the video slots, with redesigned symbols to look like dice. The kingdom of Extra Crown Dice is full of excitement with dice, sevens and eights, where fortunes await those bold enough to seize them. The Star and the Fleur-de-lis symbols are the Scatter symbols boosting the player’s winnings.
The dazzling dancefloor of Piggy Blitz returns with Piggy Blitz Disco Gold, the latest 6×4 online slot sensation from Play’n GO, boasting immersive features and endearing characters. The dancefloor is calling, and it’s shining brighter than ever! Piggy Blitz Disco Gold takes players back to the groovy days of the 1970s – where neon lights and disco beats set the stage for high-energy spins and big-time wins. Our favourite pigs are back, bringing glittering Cash Coins and the exclusive Gold Piggy Feature to this glitzy slot adventure.
Booming Games is going for goal with its first-ever instant win title, Ronaldinho Scores Shoot & Win, as it continues to leverage its partnership with the international footballing icon. Players step into the football boots of Ronaldinho and experience the thrills and excitement of trying to beat the keeper. Each shot the player takes could mean a big prize – there are 16 prizes in total with each kick potentially delivering at least 3 instant rewards.
Asia
VSPO, the largest esports company in Asia, rebranded Hero Esports to support global growth strategy
VSPO, the largest esports company in Asia, is pleased to announce that it has officially been rebranded Hero Esports, aligning with its domestic brand and, in doing so, supporting its international growth strategy.
The company announced its intention to rebrand alongside the appointment of Dino Ying as Executive Chairman and Danny Tang as CEO on 8 October 2024.
The unveiling of Hero Esports marks a pivotal moment in the company’s history. For nearly a decade, the business has been the leading esports tournament operator and content creator, investing in and shaping the industry to drive innovation and excellence. Most recently in September 2024, the company launched the Esports Asian Champions League (ACL), which is Asia’s premier international, multi-title esports tournament. As a key figure in the esports industry, Executive Chairman Dino Ying will play a vital role in growing the ACL alongside working closely with international governing bodies, including the International Olympic Committee and the Esports World Cup Federation, to elevate the industry more broadly. The global esports market is projected to grow from $54 billion in 2023 to $98 billion by 2028, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan.
The company’s new brand is supported by a refreshed Mission, Vision and set of Values to help employees of Hero Esports work towards common goals and ensure quality throughout the business. Hero Esports’ mission is to ‘Empower esports’, supported by its vision to ‘create the premier esports experience of the future’. Hero Esports’ values, which are based on inclusion, diversity, transparency and a passion for esports, have provided a strong foundation for the company’s continued expansion.
Danny Tang, CEO of Hero Esports, said: “Today marks a significant milestone for Hero Esports as we continue our growth trajectory to become a leading international esports organization, driven by a clear mission, vision and set of values. Hero Esports is well positioned to identify and develop new opportunities both domestically and internationally, and we look forward to aligning our expansion with an equally fast-growing esports industry.”
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