In response to the annual report, the gambling support charity’s Chief Commissioning and Strategy Officer, Anna Hargrave, noted that part of the reason why there is an increase in people receiving support and treatment is that the service has “been able to identify and support people at a much earlier stage”.

The Annual Statistics for the National Gambling Support Network report covered the period of 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 and showed the number of people who received treatment and support from the NGSN.

The report also provided insight into the characteristics of people who received treatment and support, the details of treatment outcomes, as well as the trends in treatment and support over the past nine years.

Commissioned by GambleAware, the NGSN offers free, confidential treatment and support services for gambling harm, working with the NHS and other third-sector organisations. 

Operating across England, Scotland and Wales, these treatments and interventions are tailored to an individual’s specific needs and are available to anyone experiencing gambling harm, including those affected by someone else’s gambling.

NGSN treatment and support is split into three tiers. Tier two is “initial early intervention and support for people worried about their gambling, which may involve speaking to a trained professional from one of the NGSN’s regional or national services who will give initial support and if treatment is required talk people through their options”.

Tier three includes “forms of treatment such as one-to-one support, group treatment, or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)”, while Tier four is described as “the most specialised and intensive level of care within the NGSN, where a person stays at a residential treatment centre”.

According to the annual statistics, a total of 10,754 people received either treatment or support from the NGSN. Of that figure, 7,463 received structured treatment such as CBT, one-to-one support or residential care. 

The latter figure represents a 12% increase in the number of people with gambling harm who received treatment from the previous year. However, the report noted that “approximately half of this increase is accounted for by the inclusion of an additional service provider – the Primary Care Gambling Service,” in the Data Reporting Framework.

“Not only have we reached more people, we have been able to identify and support people at a much earlier stage and that is part of the reason why we have seen an increase in people receiving treatment and support.”

GambleAware Chief Commissioning and Strategy Officer Anna Hargrave

The report stated that the overall number of people receiving treatment included “3,291 receiving Tier 2 treatment only, 6,931 receiving Tier 3 treatment and 532 receiving Tier 4 treatment. Among those receiving Tier 3 or 4 treatment, 3,048 clients also received Tier 2 treatment”.

Of the almost 7,500 people with gambling harm who received treatment, 6,225 were people who gambled while 1,214 people were impacted by someone else’s gambling or at risk of developing problematic gambling behaviour.

The report also said that the proportion of people seeking support due to another person’s gambling has “increased over time and was higher this year (15%) than the past five-year average of 13%”.

For the first time, the annual statistics included figures on the number of people who received early intervention for gambling harm. 3,291 people received early intervention and support to talk about their gambling, while 3,048 people received early intervention and then went on to receive treatment.

Hargrave commented: “In 2023, we launched new commissioning arrangements that expanded the NGSN’s scope to include prevention and early intervention, in addition to treatment. This means that our services are now working much more closely with local communities, reducing stigma and removing the barriers to accessing treatment.   

“Not only have we reached more people, we have been able to identify and support people at a much earlier stage and that is part of the reason why we have seen an increase in people receiving treatment and support. Our new commissioning arrangements also included the addition of the Primary Care Gambling Service who work closely with our third sector providers enabling us to support more people across the NGSN. 

“We look forward to the introduction of the statutory levy on gambling operators and the future gambling harms commissioning system, and we will continue to work in partnership with all those in the sector including the NHS.”

GambleAware noted that other key findings from the annual statistics report include that 95% of those who completed their treatment saw an improvement. Among those, the rate of problem gambling fell from 87% to 10% between initial assessment and completion of treatment.

The NGSN report also showed that 50% of people looking for treatment had their first appointment within six days of contacting the service, while 75% had their first appointment within 12 days.

Among those receiving treatment for their gambling, 66% reported being in debt due to gambling, 24% experienced a relationship loss and 11% experienced a job loss because of their gambling.  

Professor Dame Clare Gerada, Director of the National Primary Care Gambling Service, added: “We work closely with third-sector organisations and charities to care for patients and their affected others experiencing gambling-related harms. 

“Working as part of the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN), we share our clinical expertise and skills in gambling-related harm to those network members and learn from each other. This allows us to enhance the care all of us can provide to patients and ensures those experiencing gambling harm receive the most appropriate care and support when needed.”

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The dataset, for the period October to December 2023, also showed that organisations with the GambleAware commissioned network are contacting those seeking treatment within 1.3 days on average.

GambleAware and other organisations involved in the NGSN are highlighting the free support that is available ahead of this weekend’s Grand National.

Data from the National Gambling Helpline has also revealed that 4,816 calls and online chats were made in January 2024, which is more than any previous month on record and it is the sixth time the record has broken since the beginning of last year.

Since the network was recommissioned in April 2023, the helpline’s data showed that 28,175 people have been supported via brief interventions – conversations of 20 minutes or more and involving “short-term strategies aimed at addressing gambling harms, which are typically for more moderate concerns”. 

The number of people supported via brief interventions increased by 113 per cent from 1,597 in Q1 23/24 to 3,396 in Q3 23/24.

David Quinti, who was supported by organisations within the National Gambling Support Network, commented: “Having accessed support through Beacon Counselling Trust years ago myself, I know the positive impact these services can have in rebuilding people’s lives after experiencing gambling harm.

“Talking to a professional each week about what I was experiencing was an enormous step to help understand my relationship with gambling and, ultimately, help me recover from it. I would urge anyone who may be struggling with gambling to reach out.”

The NGSN consists of 11 organisations split across regional providers – ARA, Aquarius, Beacon Counselling Trust, Breakeven, GamCare, NECA and RCA Trust – and national providers – Adferiad Recovery, BetKnowMore, GamCare, Primary Care Gambling Service and Gordon Moody.

The network offers gambling harm support – whether their own or someone else’s – locally, regionally and nationally in various ways including residential treatment, one-to-one support and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Recommissioned in April 2023, additional services are now available through the network, including peer-to-peer support, support with recognising gambling harms among GPs and other gambling-linked concerns such as debt advice and financial support.

Earlier this week, GambleAware published an invitation to tender as it is looking to commission an evaluation and learning partner to assess the effectiveness of the NGSN.

The partner will play a “key role in generating and disseminating learning throughout the NGSN as well as conducting an integrated review of its clinical, operational and economic effectiveness”.

Anna Hargrave, Chief Commissioning Officer at GambleAware, stated: “The GambleAware commissioned National Gambling Support Network is designed to prevent the escalation of harms associated with gambling. The network provides people with easy access to treatment and support wherever they are across Great Britain. 

“It is heartening to hear the positive impact the services have on people’s lives and the difference they make. These essential third-sector providers play a vital role for people across the country, and we look forward to continuing to share this expertise and experience alongside the NHS under the new system once a levy is introduced.”  

A recent survey by YouGov – taking place between January 29 and February 15, 2024 – asked over 5,075 UK participants how effective the following forms of support would be for reducing gambling harm: talking to a friend or family member; tools that block access to gambling websites; weekly sessions with a trained practitioner; or self-help apps.

Of the selections, 66 per cent said weekly sessions with a trained professional were the most effective form of support, followed by tools that block access to gambling websites at 59 per cent, talking to a friend or family member at 58 per cent and self-help apps at 29 per cent.

“Being able to speak to someone if you’re struggling with gambling is a vital tool in curbing gambling harms,” added Stuart Andrew, Gambling Minister.

“The increase in calls to the National Gambling Helpline shows the importance of getting the right help in place for those who may be suffering.

“That’s why in our white paper published last year we introduced a range of measures to prevent harms before they occur, including stake limits for online slot games and financial risk checks, as well as a levy on gambling companies to increase funding for research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms.”

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Within its invitation to tender, GambleAware noted that the partner will play a “key role in generating and disseminating learning throughout the NGSN as well as conducting an integrated review of its clinical, operational and economic effectiveness”.

In addition, the gambling support charity said that the flagship, mixed-methods programme will examine NGSN as a system, providing “valuable insights and assurances to support the future commissioning of the NGSN post-white paper”.

Open to various evaluation questions, strands and methodologies, GambleAware is also encouraging the commissioned partner to provide additional insights, knowledge and creativity.

Previously known as the National Gambling Treatment Service, the NGSN was redesigned in 2022 to meet the growing and changing needs of those at risk of gambling harm, offering a regional first approach and improving referral routes for those that need support, as only a small group of people were accessing treatment services.

The network consists of 11 organisations split across regional providers – ARA, Aquarius, Beacon Counselling Trust, Breakeven, GamCare, NECA and RCA Trust – and national providers – Adferiad Recovery, BetKnowMore, GamCare, Primary Care Gambling Service and Gordon Moody.

However, the NGSN structure will soon be changed in line with regulatory changes of the Gambling Review’s white paper, which will see the establishment of a statutory levy on operators to fund problem gambling research, education, and treatment projects, organisations and initiatives.

As part of the changes, the government has proposed the creation of three separate commissioners: a treatment commissioner led by the NHS; a research commissioner led by the UKRI; and a yet-to-be-confirmed prevention commissioner.

GambleAware has previously stated it broadly supports the changes as it believes the statutory levy can have “transformational potential” for gambling harms treatment.

However, the charity is pushing for a single prevention and treatment commissioner or close collaboration among commissioners, as treatment and support by the NGSN would fall under the NHS in its treatment commissioner role.

As a result of the transition and to “offer insights into its benefits, functioning and strengths, an evaluation of the NGSN as a holistic system is being sought”.

GambleAware noted: “A robust and independent evaluation is crucial to generate the necessary insights to engage key stakeholders and inform decision-making, ultimately leading to the adoption of the optimal prevention and treatment model.

“The presence of an independent evaluation will also enhance the credibility to the NGSN as a system particularly in future partnership endeavours with the NHS.”

GambleAware has given the evaluation a budget of up to £350,000 and has asked for project proposals to be sent to procurement@gambleaware.org with the subject line ‘NGSN – Learning and evaluation partner’ by May 8.

“While final outputs will be required by December 2025, we expect early and interim findings to be disseminated to GambleAware sooner/on a more regular basis, where possible, that align to key decision-making junctures,” the charity stated.

“It is vital to the success of this work that insights are available in a timely manner and can inform the transition to a statutory levy system. In this way, this work should be seen as formative, in that it seeks to provide insights as they are generated in order to inform ongoing discussions around the white paper.”

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It follows the role of third-sector services being cited as ‘critical’ when it comes to supporting those that need it, as the industry looks to take a collaborative approach to increasing social responsibility. 

The new online tool, which is designed to help people understand how gambling might be harming them,  was launched in a bid to align with the launch of GambleAware’s stigma campaign ‘Let’s Open Up About Gambling’, which reached tens of millions of people as part of a coordinated effort to reduce barriers in accessing support and treatment services.

Zoë Osmond, CEO of GambleAware, commented: “The figures released today underscore the critical role third-sector services play as part of a whole-system-approach to addressing gambling harms.

“As we approach the Government’s planned announcement around the structure of the new system, it’s imperative a comprehensive prevention-led approach is prioritised,  including increased investment into free, confidential support services, educational initiatives, public health campaigns and digital resources,  which allow for a tailored approach for all communities across Great Britain who need our support.”

Emphasising the success of the initiative, GambleAware revealed that more than 100,000 people engaged with the self-assessment tool in less than a year – with around 25 per cent seeking further support from a trained advisor.

Alexia Clifford, Chief Communications Officer at GambleAware, added: “We are encouraged to note the impact of this important campaign – with more than half of our target audience (56%) responding by taking proactive steps, such as reducing gambling, monitoring activity3, and engaging in open discussions about their concerns. 

“These figures show the critical importance of prevention and early intervention in safeguarding individuals from the harms of gambling.”

The group also stated that the results underline a ‘pressing need’ to prioritise a holistic response to address societal impact of gambling, including investing in grassroots education and training to help address gambling harms within local communities.

Laura Mallis, Project Coordinator for Citizens Advice Scotland Gambling Support Service, concluded by stating that they have ‘witnessed firsthand the profound and diverse impact gambling harms can have on clients’. 

She added: “The training and upskilling our advisers and volunteers have received from the Gambling Support Service has transformed our response and equipped us with the ability to recognize relevant signs and offer more meaningful support. 

“It’s sobering to realise how deeply these issues affect individuals, extending far beyond finances into their mental health and relationships. We’re truly grateful for this partnership with GambleAware, as it enables us to make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.”

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The data comes from GambleAware’s 2022/23 NGTS Annual Statistics report and is released as the charity calls for reassurance by the UK government that the new statutory levy proposal will not put third-sector support services at risk of collapse.

GambleAware commissions the NGTS, which is made up of 10 organisations across England, Scotland and Wales, offering free and confidential treatment, early intervention, and prevention services for anyone experiencing gambling-related harms.

Nearly 7,000 people every year access structured support through the NGTS, and over 44,000 calls are answered by the National Gambling Helpline. Despite the high traffic, 50 per cent of people are seen within five days after their referral, and 75 per cent are seen within nine days.

Commenting on the data, Anna Hargrave, Chief Commissioning and Strategy Officer at GambleAware, said: “Today’s data clearly demonstrates the value of the prevention-focused approach applied through our network.

“It is a timely reminder of the importance of investing in early treatment – especially as recently reported figures from the Gambling Commission suggest prevalence of harmful gambling may be much larger than previously estimated.”

The National Gambling Support Network was relaunched by GambleAware earlier this year in April and has since gone on to provide vital support to those who need it most.

Between April and June 2023, the service saw a 24 per cent year-over-year increase in calls to the National Gambling Helpline, a 46 per cent increase in early intervention delivered through the helpline, and an 18 per cent rise in structured treatment demand.

“NGSN services represent the first line of defence in supporting and reaching people before problems with gambling become catastrophic consequences,” noted Graham England, CEO at Ara Recovery for All.

“We are talking about brilliant, dedicated teams making a decisive difference in the lives of thousands of people across Great Britain. The latest data from this network commissioned through GambleAware, highlights just how effective, and desperately needed, those tailored, community-focused, interventions are.”

Additional data from GambleAware shows that the demand for preventative support has increased year-over-year in the first quarter, with help delivered through the National Gambling Helpline rising by 46 per cent.

The charity has stated that the data release shows the “effectiveness of the services provided” and an emphasis on early intervention and prevention.

However, GambleAware added that these services could “collapse under the government’s current proposals for the implementation of the statutory levy on gambling operators”.

Zoë Osmond, CEO of GambleAware, remarked: “We welcome the government’s forthcoming statutory levy on gambling operators – it is a measure we have long called for to make sure that funding for vital research, treatment and prevention of gambling harms is both long-term and transparent.

“However, the focus on specialist-led services means right now, hundreds of dedicated third-sector support workers are deeply concerned about their future and the future of the communities they serve.

“There is an urgent need for reassurance from the government that these essential services will be protected during and following the transition. We cannot lose the vast years of experience and expertise contained in the National Gambling Support Network and the wider third sector.”

GambleAware noted that experts believe the new proposals from the government could also put increasing pressure on the NHS’ finances and waiting lists.

“From my experience running the NHS Primary Care Gambling Service, which is part of the National Gambling Support Network, I have seen first-hand the benefits of being part of a thriving and connected third-sector ecosystem,” stated Professor Dame Clare Gerada.

“My experience has also made it abundantly clear that whilst the NHS gambling clinics have a place in the system, what we also need is an approach which aims to prevent gambling harms from escalating – before people find themselves at the much more serious point of needing specialist care.

“Gambling harms are a societal, public health issue – not just a medical one. Whilst the specialist sector has a valuable and important role, relying predominantly on this sector is neither financially viable nor logistically feasible.”

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The extension will allow the gambling support charity to continue to run the National Gambling Helpline, which it has operated for the past 25 years, with a focus on widening accessibility and choice for those that need it.

Joining the NGSN, GamCare will improve its digital tools and resources to make sure both self-help and direct support is available to those that seek support.

The funding will also help the charity to bolster its regional services and treatment, working closer with partners in London, Yorkshire and Humber, Scotland, South East, the East Midlands and the North East, as well as other providers across Great Britain.

“We are delighted with the outcome of the commissioning process and to be able to continue providing free, confidential support to anyone impacted by gambling nationally,” commented Anna Hemmings, Chief Executive at GamCare.

As part of the NGSN, GamCare will help improve access to the support network and the National Gambling Helpline, reduce barriers to receiving help including digitalising its services, collaborate with other gambling support organisations and ensure all support services are continuously looking to improve and are designed for those that use them.

Hemmings added: “Having secure, sustainable funding provides a fantastic opportunity for us to look long-term at how we deliver services that can best support people and communities to reduce gambling harms. 

“We look forward to collaborating with other partner organisations in the National Gambling Support Network.”

Back in February, GamCare introduced MyGamCare, a free-to-use online portal designed to help increase the online support available to those that could be struggling with their gambling.

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The former National Gambling Treatment Service, which comprises a range of third sector treatment providers, is looking to meet the growing and changing needs of those at risk of gambling harms in Great Britain.

A specific focus will be placed on early intervention, which it is hoped will prevent an escalation of harms and support required that it is hoped will subsequently help relieve pressure on the NHS.

Part of the refreshed service will also include improved referral routes for those experiencing harms from gambling, with a holistic, joined-up service permitting local providers to speedily direct individuals into the treatment service that is right and appropriate for them.

Furthermore, the input of individuals with lived experience is also said to have been “central to the design of the new NGSN”. It is added that these viewpoints will be “integral” in shaping the future of the network.

Anna Hargrave, GambleAware Chief Commissioning Officer, said: “As the country’s leading commissioner in this sector, we’re delighted to announce the new National Gambling Support Network and our increase in investment for those experiencing gambling harm. 

“The NGSN is built on strong foundations and brings together a network of excellent regional providers, who are strong agents of change working to meet people’s needs. 

“By taking a regional first approach we hope to create new opportunities to work with other local services and government agencies. By broadening our reach at a local level and engaging with local authorities or the criminal justice sector, for example, means we can further help those experiencing harm from gambling.”

Betknowmore UK has also disclosed that it has joined the NGSN, which will see the three services of Peer Aid, New Beginnings and GOALS be commissioned to roll out nationally over the next three years.

“The new NGSN launch is an important milestone for supporting and treating people harmed by gambling in the UK,” explained Frankie Graham, Founder & CEO of Betknowmore UK. 

“Betknowmore UK is immensely proud to contribute to a national provision of work. The three key services that we will provide are demonstration that the voice of lived experience, embedded into peer and community support, has an essential part to play in gambling harms prevention and recovery.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all that have been part of our journey. You have been amazing. We look forward with excitement at the prospect of continuing to learn and develop by working with brilliant charities and agencies across the UK. 

“Collective strength and expertise will aid our continued efforts to implement a public health approach and stop the personal, community and societal impact of gambling.”

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