GamCare says goodbye to GambleAware

GamCare, which has primarily been funded by GambleAware, has given tribute to the soon-to-close gambling harms organisation and reaffirmed its committment to maintaining the National Gambling Helpline.

Key points: 

- GamCare has thanked GambleAware staff and trustees for their dedication and committment

- It has reaffirmed its committment to supporting at-risk players with the National Gambling Helpline

- The body will seek meetings with the NHS England and relevant bodies in Scotland and Wales at the earliest opportunity

GamCare has paid tribute to GambleAware following the announcement of the latter’s managed closure. 

GambleAware announced that it will close on 31 March 2026, with the work it has historically done commissioning gambling harms research, prevention and treatment transitioning to the UK Government. 

GamCare, the UK’s national gambling support helpline, has called the revelation a “defining transition point for the sector” and thanked the organisation for its “dedication and commitment over many years.” 

GamCare has primarily been funded by GambleAware as part of the National Gambling Support Network and will now be looking for reassurances over its own future. 

The statutory RET levy came into force this year, though it’s unclear yet as to which specific gambling harms charities and social enterprises will be receiving funding. 

Good to know: Last year, prior to the new statutory levy coming into force, GambleAware accepted just over £24m in donations from gambling operators, the lowest it had received since 2021 

It was announced last week that GambleAware would be receiving a maximum of £11m of the money raised by the levy as agreed by NHS England and the devolved Scottish and Welsh Governments. 

This money was earmarked to help with the transition period, and it was caveated with the comment that it would be a one-off arrangement. 

GamCare has said it will now be seeking meetings at the earliest opportunity with NHS England and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, as well as relevant bodies in Scotland and Wales, to understand what this transition will mean for it and the at-risk players it offers support to. 

The body has made clear that it hopes to continue working with the new commissioners within the Government to maintain operation of the helpline.