GamCare reports 114,000 contacts ahead of levy transition

GamCare handled more than 114,000 contacts through the National Gambling Helpline and its online services during 2025/26, as the charity prepared for the biggest change to gambling-harm funding in decades.

Its latest trustees’ report covers the final financial year in which services operated under the voluntary levy arrangements. It also provides a benchmark for the treatment system that is now being commissioned through money collected from gambling operators under the statutory levy.

More than 11,400 referrals made

According to GamCare’s 2025/26 Trustees’ Annual Report, its helpline and online services made more than 11,400 onward referrals into treatment and support during the year.

A further 17,700 connections were made to wider services. These can be important where gambling harm is accompanied by debt, mental health difficulties, relationship problems or other circumstances that might require additional specialist support.

GamCare’s prevention, education and outreach programmes reached approximately 17,100 people before their difficulties escalated. This included more than 2,100 professionals trained to identify and respond to gambling-related harm.

The training covered sectors including health and social care, criminal justice, financial services and the Armed Forces. This reflects the charity’s wider role beyond operating the National Gambling Helpline and delivering treatment directly.

GamCare chief executive Victoria Corbishley said the figures represented people choosing to seek support, sometimes for the first time.

“Behind every one of this year’s 114,000 contacts is a person who chose to ask for support.” – Victoria Corbishley

Treatment scores fall considerably

The report showed that people who progressed into structured treatment received a full assessment within an average of 2.4 days.

GamCare delivered more than 10,300 treatment sessions. These were delivered to 2,811 clients between April 2025 and March 2026. The charity said it sought to provide continuity by keeping clients with the same practitioner wherever possible.

Nearly 97% of people who reported a positive change in their circumstances. Average scores on a standard measure of gambling harm fell were 14.4 when treatment began. These fell to 3.3 at completion.

Scores measuring psychological distress also fell by more than half. GamCare did not present the 97% figure as applying to everyone who contacted the service or entered treatment. It is specifically related to competition of a course of support.

The Care Quality Commission separately assessed the National Gambling Helpline, treatment and outreach services. These were described as safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. GamCare said the regulator also found its services operated free from gambling-industry influence.

Statutory levy changes the funding model

The reporting period was also GamCare’s final full year under the previous voluntary funding structure.

The statutory levy formally commenced in April 2025, although NHS England took responsibility for commissioning gambling-harm treatment in England from 1 April 2026. This made 2025/26 a transitional year for GamCare and other organisations previously supported through voluntary operator contributions.

Under the government’s statutory gambling  levy framework, online gambling operators and gambling software licensees contribute 1.1% of their previous year’s gross gambling yield. Lower rates apply to land-based casinos, betting shops, bingo halls and other licensed gambling activities.

The government said the first year of the levy raised just under £120m. Half of the available funding is allocated to treatment, 30% to prevention and 20% to research.

NHS England and the relevant bodies in Scotland and Wales are responsible for treatment commissioning. Prevention funding is directed through public-health bodies. UK Research and Innovation leads much of the research programme.

The government created a temporary transition fund after acknowledging that tight commissioning timetables could otherwise leave gaps in prevention and treatment provision. The change is intended to produce a more sustainable funding system that remains independent of the gambling businesses paying into it.

GamCare secures funding under new arrangements

GamCare said it had secured funding from the new commissioners in England and Scotland. This allows its helpline, treatment and outreach work to continue under the statutory system.

The charity’s results now offer a baseline against which the new funding arrangements can be assessed. Future reporting will show whether providers can maintain short waiting times, treatment outcomes and access to specialist support while adapting to new contracts and commissioning responsibilities.

Corbishley said GamCare entered the new system with a proven treatment model and a commitment to ensuring people could continue accessing support without judgement.