An incredible 55,228 calls and online chats were handled by GamCare’s National Gambling Helpline in 2023–2024—a dramatic 25% increase over the previous year. The charity’s Annual Report details this growth, which highlights the rising problems with gambling harm in the UK.
GamCare concentrated on offering vital help to individuals who are at risk or who are already impacted in the midst of uncertainty after the government’s gambling reform white paper. Remarkably, supportive interventions were used in 41,070 contacts, or 74% of all interactions, providing crucial direction and access to organized treatment. Participants in these programs reported significant decreases in financial harm and distress associated to gambling.
In March 2024, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities reinforced the helpline’s vital role in connecting individuals to care. Their assessment showed that 57% of treatment referrals originated from the National Gambling Helpline. Over the year, GamCare facilitated 9,100 free treatment sessions, with an impressively short average wait of 2.1 days from referral to initiation.
Targeted Programmes Drive Awareness and Training
GamCare also extended its impact through specialized programs for young people, women, and the criminal justice system. These initiatives trained 10,344 professionals to identify gambling harm and direct individuals toward support services. Educational outreach reached 53,324 young people, children, and parents.
The Women’s Programme, developed in partnership with organizations like Refuge, trained 3,813 professionals to recognize and address gambling-related harm among women, further broadening GamCare’s reach and effectiveness.
Margot Daly, Executive Chair of GamCare’s Board, expressed gratitude to the team for their unwavering dedication during a challenging year. She stated:
“Throughout a challenging year and with heightened demand for our services, GamCare’s staff have got on with the job of preventing harm where possible and treating harm where necessary… we are committed to working proactively with the NHS and other partners and commissioners to ensure that people are continually able to receive the right support at the right time.”
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