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Nationwide sees gambling transactions up 7% year on year

ended 27. February 2026

Nationwide is warning of rising gambling-related harm as new figures show increased spending, while research suggests many Brits expect to bet more during a year packed with major sporting events.

Britain’s biggest building society recorded a 9% rise in gambling spend since last year, with transaction volumes also up 7%. Figures show top 10% of gamblers spend an average of £745 per month.

  • How dangerous is gambling?
  • How worrying is gambling transactions going up year on year?
  • What needs to be done to help gamblers?

Responses this afternoon.

1 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Nouran MoustafaVerified
Practice Principal & IFA at Roxton Wealth
Gambling isn’t automatically “dangerous” but the accessibility, speed and normalisation of it absolutely can be. When you can place a bet in seconds, 24/7, from your phone, it stops feeling like a conscious financial decision and starts becoming a habit.

A 9% year on year rise in spend is more than just a statistic it’s a behavioural signal. Particularly when the top 10% of gamblers are spending an average of £745 per month. For many households, that’s equivalent to a mortgage payment, school fees, or meaningful long term savings.

With a major sporting calendar ahead, emotional highs and social hype can easily drive impulsive spending. The concern isn’t one occasional bet it’s the cumulative financial impact over time.

What’s needed is stronger financial education, clearer affordability checks, and better use of banking tools such as alerts and gambling blocks. Gambling harm should be treated as a financial wellbeing issue, not just a regulatory one.