About GamCare
GamCare’s primary service is the National Gambling Helpline, which it has operated for over 25 years. The Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, free of charge, via telephone (0808 8020 133) and live chat, serving residents of England, Scotland, and Wales. In 2023/24, the Helpline received 55,228 calls and online chats, a 25% increase on the prior year. As part of the National Gambling Support Network, GamCare provides structured treatment sessions alongside specialist programmes for women, individuals in the criminal justice system, and young people. In 2024/25, people referred into treatment were contacted within an average of 1.3 days. The charity also conducts policy and research work, representing service users in engagement with government, regulators, and the media.
For operators, the primary B2B routes to GamCare were the Safer Gambling Standard (SGS) — a UKAS-accredited operator quality mark — and a suite of industry training programmes. The SGS launched in 2019, received UKAS accreditation in 2023, and was achieved by 56 gambling operators before the scheme closed in December 2024. Between 2019 and 2024, GamCare trained over 8,300 delegates across 80 gambling operators and associated sectors. Following the closure of its Safer Gambling function, B2B engagement now focuses on policy collaboration and GamCare’s role as a service provider within government-commissioned support networks.
| Established | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction / HQ | London, United Kingdom |
| Type | RG Organisation |
| Oversight Scope | Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) |
| Website | gamcare.org.uk |
Industry Impact & Relevance
GamCare is the most prominent responsible gambling charity in Britain and the operator of the National Gambling Helpline — the primary public-facing entry point into gambling harm support across Great Britain. A CQC review conducted between May 2025 and March 2026 found no evidence that the support and treatment GamCare provided was influenced by its historical industry funding, directly addressing the independence questions that have surrounded charities in this space. For operators, GamCare’s signposting is embedded in UKGC LCCP social responsibility requirements — operators are expected to refer players to appropriate support, and GamCare is the primary designated destination for that referral obligation.
The most consequential structural development affecting GamCare is the transition from voluntary to statutory levy funding. The statutory levy was formally activated on 6 April 2025, replacing the voluntary contribution model under which GambleAware — GamCare’s primary commissioner — operated. GambleAware announced it will close on 31 March 2026, with commissioning responsibilities transitioning to the UK Government. GamCare’s future funding under the new NHS-led statutory system has not yet been confirmed, creating material uncertainty over its operational capacity. The statutory levy is expected to generate approximately £100 million annually, but allocation across England, Scotland, and Wales remains unresolved. For operators, the collapse of the voluntary funding model marks a structural reset in how the sector funds and relates to responsible gambling organisations — with GamCare’s continuity and remit subject to decisions not yet made.
