Who we are and what we do
GamCare is the largest independent provider of free prevention and treatment services to people at risk of or experiencing gambling harms across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. GamCare is a member of the National Gambling Support Network of national and regional providers, co-ordinated by GambleAware.
GamCare was founded by Paul Bellringer OBE in 1997. Paul had witnessed gambling harms at first hand as a probation officer in south London in the 1990s. Together with a small number of like-minded individuals he decided to create a charity and a helpline to offer support to people in need. GamCare has grown into a national charity with over 250 employees and £20m income (2022/23). GamCare is funded by grants and gifts from those who share its commitment to preventing gambling harms and treating those who have experienced them.
The National Gambling Helpline
GamCare operates the National Gambling Helpline and associated online services. The helpline is free at the point of use and operates 24/7, 365 days a year. Advisors take approximately a thousand calls a week from people who want information and advice and want to change their relationship with gambling. The helpline offers a no wrong door gateway to treatment services, whether provided nationally or by regional and local providers.
Treatment
Historically, GamCare has differentiated its treatment plans based on the level of intervention required, with some delivered remotely and others provided in more direct, in-person settings, either locally or regionally.
GamCare measures its treatment success against national standards; using the CORE-10, a widely recognised global measure of psychological distress employed by the NHS and the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), which assesses gambling severity. GamCare deploys both measures to give the charity a fuller picture of treatment impact.
Prevention
GamCare’s tailored prevention programmes focus on providing free, non-judgemental information, education about gambling harms and training to target communities, using its extensive database and the latest evidence. GamCare has programmes working with young people, adults, women, people in the criminal justice system and people in the armed forces. GamCare believes that through raising awareness of the harms from gambling and sharing clear and information about how they manifest and where to go for help and support it can prevent treatment being needed in the future.