British charity GamCare has expressed confidence in the contribution its Money Guidance Service (MGS) makes as part of its wider gambling harm treatment programmes.

The charity first launched the MGS back in 2022 with pilots in the East Midlands and Yorkshire & the Humber regions of England, as a response to demands for financial advice.

Gambling’s societal impact has been under the microscope, both regulatory and academically and otherwise, for the past few years, particularly during the 2005 Gambling Act review between 2020-2023.

Three years after launching the MGS regionally in 2022 and nationally in 2023, GamCare believes that the service is serving a ‘critical function’ for people looking for help with problem gambling and gambling-related harm.

Kathy Wade, Money Guidance Service Manager at GamCare, commented: “It’s fantastic to see the impact that the team has had in helping people recover from gambling-related financial issues, especially as we continue to see rising costs impact people in Britain.

“This report highlights the important steps the team is taking in helping people get back on their feet after gambling-related debt. We’re looking forward to implementing the recommendations of the report and continue building an excellent service which helps people get back in control of their finances.”

Gambling debt and gambling reform

GamCare’s evaluation report of the MGS concluded that people who received support via it reported having greater control of financial stability, a reduction of their debt, and general support for recovery and general wellbeing.

Participants also stated that the service has joined the dots between gambling support and debt advice, one of GamCare’s main objections when setting up the MGS.

The charity reported back in 2022 that 76% of people calling into its National Gambling Helpline stated that they had encountered financial difficulties due to gambling while 31% said that financial struggles were a key reason behind their gambling.

The report’s publication comes amid a renewed debate around gambling harm in the UK, with some politicians and other stakeholders calling for another look at Britain’s gambling regulations.

This is despite the recommendations of the Gambling Act review still being implemented by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the wider industry. 

Much of the concerns driving these calls for another regulatory review revolve around the financial impact of problem gambling, with politicians like Dawn Butler MP often arguing that betting shops are located in more impoverished areas than affluent ones.