GamCare has reported a sharp increase in the number of people being directed to treatment and peer-support services, following contact with the National Gambling Helpline and its live chat platform.
During January 2026, the charity made 996 referrals, a notable rise from 674 referrals in January 2025, representing a 48% increase year on year.
When excluding peer-based services such as the Money Guidance Service and Way Forward, the number of referrals specifically for treatment reached 742, up from 603 in the same period last year.
January 2026 now ranks as one of GamCare’s busiest months for referrals in the past five years. Only October 2025 (1,165 referrals), August 2025 (1,077) and September 2025 (1,022) recorded higher figures.
“More people affected by gambling harms are choosing to start treatment,” said Victoria Corbishley, CEO of GamCare.
“The National Gambling Helpline is a 24/7, confidential route to support, and our advisers rapidly connect people with free, specialist help across Great Britain. That first conversation remains the crucial turning point.”
According to GamCare, the data indicate that individuals are moving more quickly from initial contact to entering treatment. The charity noted an improvement in the rate at which helpline interactions are converted into referrals, crediting clearer referral pathways and increased willingness among callers to engage with support.
GamCare also highlighted a rise in the average number of referrals per person, suggesting that users are increasingly accessing a combination of services rather than a single form of support.
The average referrals per individual increased from 1.1 in 2023/24, to 1.2 in 2024/25, and 1.3 in 2025/26.
The upward trend aligns with a broader public health strategy aimed at tackling gambling harm through early intervention and quicker access to specialist care. Gambling-related harm is closely linked to mental health challenges, financial distress, and social consequences, with recent reviews emphasising the importance of reducing delays between first contact and treatment.
Efforts to promote safer gambling in the UK have intensified in recent years. In January, GambleAware announced that its three-year national problem gambling awareness campaign had achieved a 90% success rate.
The latest figures follow earlier disclosures that September 2025 saw record numbers of people seeking help for gambling-related financial difficulties.
These developments come amid significant structural changes to the UK’s gambling harm prevention landscape. GambleAware is set to cease operations next month, with the NHS taking over as the primary commissioner of gambling harm treatment services. This transition follows the introduction of the research, education and treatment (RET) levy as part of the Gambling Act 2005 review.
Anyone affected by gambling-related harm can access free, confidential support through GamCare’s National Gambling Helpline, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round.