Nationwide has issued a fresh gambling spending warning after new data revealed a sharp rise in betting transactions among its customers.
The building society recorded a 9 per cent year-on-year increase in gambling spend during January, with the total reaching £224.6 million compared with £205.3 million the previous year.
Transaction volumes climbed by 7 per cent over the same period, and the figures show the heaviest tenth of bettors now spend an average of £745 a month.
The warning arrives ahead of a packed year of major sporting fixtures, including the FIFA Men’s World Cup, the Six Nations and the T20 cricket World Cup.
A Nationwide survey of 2,000 gamblers found that 68 per cent expect to increase their betting activity in 2026 because of the busy sporting schedule.
Football is expected to drive most of the rise, with 59 per cent of respondents naming the World Cup and 34 per cent citing the Champions League as key triggers.
Kathryn Townsend, Nationwide’s Head of Customer Vulnerability, said the society was concerned more people could end up gambling beyond what they can afford this year.
She pointed to safeguards the bank has introduced, including a self-set gambling block with a built-in 72 hour cooling-off period before it can be switched off again.
More than 10,000 of these blocks are now being applied across Nationwide accounts every month, according to figures released alongside the warning.
Even so, nearly one in five gamblers surveyed said they were unaware that banks and building societies even offer gambling blocking tools on everyday accounts.
Charity GamCare, which runs the National Gambling Helpline, reported 105,765 contacts from people seeking support during 2025, alongside a sharp rise in treatment referrals in January.
Raminta Diliso of GamCare said gambling harm often remains hidden, but can lead to serious financial difficulties, mental health struggles and strained relationships for those affected.
Among those surveyed, 17 per cent admitted they sometimes gamble as a way to raise money to cover essential household bills, a figure researchers flagged as particularly concerning.
Warning signs highlighted by Nationwide include becoming withdrawn, compulsively checking betting results, noticeable mood swings, disrupted sleep and unexplained requests to borrow money.
Anyone worried about their own gambling or that of someone close to them can contact the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133 for confidential support.
The Nationwide gambling spending warning underlines just how much a single busy sporting year can shift household finances, and why the lender is urging customers to use the tools already available to them.