GambleAware: Gambling harm support taking 3.5 days on average
GambleAware released new data from the network to mark its one-year anniversary. The National Gambling Support Network is a GambleAware-commissioned service.
Organisations within the service contacted those who had reached out for treatment within 1.3 days on average during the last three months of 2023. The National Gambling Support Network is made up of 11 organisations in total.
The new data also revealed that January 2024 saw the highest number of calls and online chats made to the National Gambling Helpline since its inception, totalling 4,816. This is the sixth time the record has been broken since 2023 began.
The National Gambling Helpline is run by GamCare and has been in operation for more than 25 years. Twelve months ago, GambleAware agreed to fund GamCare for a further three years, allowing it to continue running the helpline.
Gambling minister Stuart Andrew said the growth in calls to the helpline demonstrated the necessity of the service.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
GambleAware in support of statutory levy for further care
Statistics from the National Gambling Helpline also revealed that 28,175 people have received brief interventions – classified as conversations lasting 20 minutes or more – since April 2023.
“The GambleAware-commissioned National Gambling Support Network is designed to prevent the escalation of harms associated with gambling,” said Anna Hargrave, chief commissioning officer at GambleAware. “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 proposed statutory levy on operators – one of the measures included in the Gambling Act review white paper – has been backed by GambleAware and NHS England.
The levy would see online gambling operators pay a 1% fee on gross gambling yield, which would be distributed by the Gambling Commission to the NHS and UK Research and Innovation.
Last week, GambleAware announced that its self-assessment tool had been accessed by over 100,000 users since its launch.