GamCare program helps gamblers with financial problems regain control
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20 Sep 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes GamCare has published an independent study on its Money Guidance Service in England, a pilot project launched in 2022. The goal: to support people whose financial difficulties stem from gambling.
How the Money Guidance Service bridges the gap between gambling support and debt advice
According to the report, three out of four callers to the helpline report money problems, and two out of three even mention serious debts. Traditional debt advice often does not fit the needs of this group.
That is why the Money Guidance Service focuses on tailored support. People learn how to draw up budgets, prioritize essential expenses, and in some cases reclaim forgotten benefits. Altogether, this has already resulted in more than £77,000 in recovered benefits.
GamCare reported that so far, 1,741 people have received support, of which 439 received one-to-one guidance. Clients described the service as “essential” and “refreshing.” Some saw their anxiety decrease, regained confidence, and were even able to book their first holiday in years.
Training and tools also strengthen staff and families
In addition to individual support, GamCare delivered 55 training sessions to 270 professionals, helping them to better address financial issues in their work. The digital toolkit has already been accessed 3,771 times, assisting people who did not want to engage in a direct conversation right away.
However, only 9% of participants were family members or partners, highlighting room to broaden the outreach. There were also limitations in the existing debt advice services, which meant some people did not receive the right support. This has led to calls for developing dedicated debt support or training current advisers specifically on gambling-related issues.
This approach aligns with wider concerns about young people, who are increasingly struggling due to gambling. Figures show that the number of registrations with GamStop among under-25s is rising sharply.