Gambling addicts risk losing ‘life-saving’ help due to funding overhaul, say UK charities

Gambling addicts are at risk of missing out on “life-saving” help unless the government provides emergency support, charities have warned, after an overhaul of funding left treatment providers facing a cash crunch.

Until this year, money for problem gambling research, education and treatment had been provided on a voluntary basis by casinos and bookmakers who contributed about 0.1% of their takings.

Under new plans, put forward by the previous government and implemented by Labour since April this year, the £12.5bn-a-year gambling sector instead pays a mandatory levy of up to 1.1%, aimed at raising about £100m a year.

The NHS will be the main conduit for distributing the money to clinics and external organisations directly treating addicts, taking on the role of commissioning these services from the charity GambleAware.

The new levy system, overseen by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, has been beset by delays, according to two of the UK’s leading gambling charities, GamCare, which runs the National Gambling Helpline, and Gordon Moody, which specialises in addiction counselling and residential treatment programmes.

Both warned that dozens of organisations, such as specialist clinics and support groups, may soon be unable to deliver services unless the government provides interim funding. The two charities blamed a lack of clarity over what the government and the commissioning bodies, including the NHS, expect from charities bidding for funding.

Victoria Corbishley, the chief executive of GamCare, which refers helpline callers to more than 30 other organisations, said: “The uncertainty is causing challenges.

“We don’t know what commissioners want from us from April onwards. It runs the risk of potential disruption to some of the services, particularly smaller organisations that we rely on.

“We need to know that the organisations we refer on to have funding secure and will be in a position to provide support, or who do we signpost to?”

Gordon Moody, which treats about 2,000 people a year and specialises in longer, residential treatment courses, provides its services free of charge to addicts thanks to funding from the gambling levy.

Alex, a 41-year-old former teacher, said treatment with Gordon Moody had turned his life around after addiction drove him to try to take his own life.

“I would not be here if it wasn’t for Gordon Moody, there is no other service like it,” he said.

“I believe suicide rates would go up [if funding is disrupted].”

A spokesperson for the charity said the funding crisis had struck partly because criteria for commissioning treatment services had been changed at short notice, “shifting the goalposts”.

“This approach is leaving longstanding, expert and proven organisations like Gordon Moody uncertain about their future beyond March 2026, and is already impacting on frontline services and the people with the most severe gambling harms,” the spokesperson said.

“We are calling on the government to approve interim funding for charities delivering essential treatment and prevention activities for the next 12 months and to initiate a comprehensive evaluation of all treatment providers.”

Corbishley echoed the call for a short-term cash injection to ensure the continuity of treatment.

“We need to make sure there’s clarity on commissioning intentions as soon as possible. If that’s going to come later, we may need interim funding arrangements to make sure there is no disruption to services.”

A government spokesperson said: “A smooth transition to the new levy system is vital, which is why we are working with GambleAware to ensure people can continue to access treatment while the new system is put in place.”

• In the UK, support for problem gambling can be found via the NHS National Problem Gambling Clinic on 020 7381 7722, or GamCare on 0808 8020 133. In the US, call the National Council on Problem Gambling at 800-GAMBLER or text 800GAM. In Australia, Gambling Help Online is available on 1800 858 858 and the National Debt Helpline is at 1800 007 007.

• In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 988 or chat for support. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis text line counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org