We are excited to share new research on Scottish students’ views on gambling, gaming, and cryptocurrency. The research was conducted in partnership by Fast Forward, Tackling Gambling Stigma, and RCA Trust and funded by GambleAware.

The findings highlight the impact gambling has on students in Scotland – both their own gambling, and that of those close to them. The report also indicates that Scottish students want more communication from uni/college channels around gambling, and more education about the nature of gambling harms and risks.

We designed the survey in collaboration with a network of experts with lived experience of gambling harm, and a pilot group of students. 142 students currently attending a university or college in Scotland completed the survey, from 18 local authorities across Scotland.

Download the full report: Scottish students’ views on gambling, gaming, and cryptocurrency 2023

Key findings include:

• Students called for more gambling services, more information, and more awareness of available services. They also wanted more communication from university or college channels, and education about the nature of gambling harms and risks.
• A large majority of students (89%) have played a video game in the last 12 months.
• Over half of students (57%) had opened a loot box in a game.
• Over four in 10 (44%) have gambled in the last 12 months.
• Of those who have heard of cryptocurrency, almost one in six (16%) have used it.
• Of those who have someone close to them who gambles regularly, half (50%) have worried about that person’s gambling.
• Loot boxes, gambling, and cryptocurrency were all rated as risky, common, easily available, harmful. Loot boxes and crypto were also rated as a form of gambling.
• Less than half of students would be confident in knowing where to refer a friend for support around harmful gambling (45%).
• Many students would either not feel comfortable reaching out for support themselves (17%) or were not sure they would feel comfortable (26%).