Students are being urged into betting, allegations claim

Across the country, students at various universities are being recruited to promote betting apps and are using promotions to entice users, new criticism have claimed.  

An investigation by the Observer has found that students are being recruited by marketing companies who claim they are working for various betting operators.  

At the University of Manchester, student prompters were encouraging other students to take advantage of “free bets” by handing out £5 notes. It was claimed that Kwiff and BetBull was behind these enticements. 

Critics have condemned the marketing agencies for the “unscrupulous” ploy of targeting impressionable young people, and the National Union of Students raised concerns over the “deplorable tactics”. The makers of the apps, who contract the marketing agencies to promote their products, have denied any involvement in, or knowledge of, the scheme. 

In addition, it has been alleged that students can earn up to £12 for every student that joins under their name. Whilst most of this promotion is now done on social media, some companies were using face to face marketing. 

One undergraduate claimed that a promoter had helped her chose odds and even bought her a drink in exchange for signing up. She alleged that she had been given gifts by such promoters: “They were [giving out £5 notes] for your first bet and a drink to sign up [to the betting sites]; it was such a good offer I couldn’t say no.” 

However, it is unclear if this is in fact a marketing ploy or if students are undertaking these measures themselves in a bid to make the whole job a bit more lucrative.  

Students in Birmingham, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield have also been hired as “brand ambassadors” for football tipsters, but there is no evidence of them handing out cash to peers. The NUS, which represents the bulk of students in higher education, has expressed concern over the revelations. Vice-president Eva Crossan Jory said: “[It is shocking] to hear that marketing agencies are recruiting students and using such deplorable tactics [on] vulnerable students, who may not understand the full implications of gambling.” 

The University of Manchester declined to comment on the allegations.