Oxford student shares how gambling has 'taken over his life'
It comes after a survey highlighted growing concerns around student gambling
An Oxford University student has spoken out about his experience online gambling as new data suggests more young people are engaging with betting and related activities.
The student, who wanted to stay anonymous, says what began as a calculated attempt to “beat the odds” has turned into something that has “taken over” his daily life.
“I started in 2022 after spotting what I thought was a statistical bias,” he explained. “I got lucky early and that's how I got into it.”
Now in his final year, with exams just weeks away, he admits his focus has shifted dramatically.
"I've not really been doing the degree, I've basically been trading full-time. And now I'm going to have to cram for my finals to graduate," he said.
The student described a routine dominated by monitoring markets, tracking news, and reacting quickly to changes - something he says clashes with academic study.
“It requires a lot of mental and emotional capacity. It’s like a 24/7 real-time strategy game that never stops.” he said.
“It’s the opposite of what you need to sit down and write an essay.”
His comments come as new research from GamStop shows gambling is common among students, with 65% saying they have gambled in the past year – rising to 75% of male students.
The survey of 2,000 students also found average weekly spending has nearly doubled to £50.33, while 46% of those who gamble say it has negatively affected their university experience.
GamStop points to changing attitudes among students, with financial pressures and social media influence playing a role in increased participation.
The Oxford student echoed these concerns, particularly around marketing tactics.
"They bait you by offering a free bet, but you have to like recycle the money a few times through the system before you can take it out," he said
He says that campaigns are often directed at a specific and potentially vulnerable demographic.
"They're targeting young men who are desperate or don't know any better," he said. "It's become part of the culture now."
The student also believes that more young people are turning to gambling to find ways of generating an income instead of working a typical 9-5 job.
"I think it's part of a wider trend of people becoming more like nihilistic," he said. "They don't believe in that future and doing what was done by their parents."
He added that this attitude is exacerbated by bursts of success in gambling: "Once you win a few times, it's hard to go back to like to like thinking in terms of working for a living anymore."
The student believes stronger regulation and tighter controls on advertising could help reduce harm, but admits solutions are not straightforward.