 It is feared more and more students are turning to casinos |
There are concerns that students in the North East of England are increasingly using gambling to try to pay off their debts. Students graduating this year from Newcastle and Sunderland universities are expected to leave with about �47m in debt.
Some are betting an entire term's loan payment in a single evening at the region's casinos to pay off course fees and rent, according to some students.
Gary Martin, a student at Sunderland University, said he had personal experience of the gambling problem among other students.
He said: "Gambling is becoming quite big problem for students... there are one or two students in particular, who I know personally, who have lost a huge amount.
"It might not seem like a huge amount to some people, but they are gambling their whole student loan away in one night to try and pay for things like rent, tuition fees and things like that.
"The most I know is �1,300 in a single night by one student... it's just a downward spiral."
Cilla Monk, of Newcastle University Students' Union, said it was a reflection on the problems students face trying to make ends meet.
She said: "It is real concern if the size of a debt is making people think the only way they can get out of it through gambling.
"The amount of debt that people have puts a lot of people going to university.
"If anyone is concerned with debt there is support at university and at the Students' Union to help improve the situation."
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It is real concern if the size of a debt is making people think the only way they can get out of it through gambling 
