Nationwide Building Society has reported a 9% year-on-year increase in the total value of customers’ gambling expenditures during January. The number of gambling-related transactions rose 7%, according to data released by the lender on Friday.
The data, citing answers from a sample of 2000 UK gamblers, also revealed that the top 10% of spenders wagered an average of approximately £745 per month.
Conducted by Censuswide for Nationwide, the survey further highlighted that 68% of current gamblers anticipate increasing their betting activities in 2026, driven by an active calendar of major sporting events.
The men’s Fifa World Cup is expected to drive 59% of this activity, while the Champions League and Champions League final (34% and 30% respectively) and Royal Ascot (20%) were also cited as the top sporting events for betting activity this year.
As well as sports, the poll revealed that people’s gambling habits were mainly driven by entertainment (53%) and a thrill to win (46%) with 18% reporting that boredom was their main motivator.
Additionally, 17% reported needing more money to pay essential bills with 6% saying that gambling had negatively impacted their standard of living.
Low awareness of gambling blocks on bank accounts
Nationwide’s announcement pointed out that around 19% of gamblers were unaware that financial institutions such as banks and building societies commonly provide gambling blocks on accounts.
Kathryn Townsend, head of customer vulnerability for Nationwide, stressed the need for proactive measures: “With a year of major sporting events ahead, we’re concerned that more people could find themselves gambling more than they can afford. That’s why early identification and strong safeguards matter.”
Gamblers’ spending numbers sparks concern
Supporting Nationwide’s concerns, charity GamCare emphasised that gambling problems can frequently lead to financial difficulties, mental health challenges and relationship breakdowns. It also said that its National Gambling Helpline saw a 48% increase in referrals in January compared to 2025.
Statistics from broader industry and government sources indicate that gambling participation in Great Britain remains substantial, with nearly half of adults reporting recent gambling activity in 2024.
The October report also stated that 42% of adults who gambled in the last 12 months said it was a positive experience compared to 21% who reported it negatively.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/finance/banking-data/uk-gamblers-spend-745-a-month-nationwide-report/
