GamCare: UK gambling has no debt advice…

Summary

GamCare has published the first evaluation of its Money Guidance Service (MGS), funded and overseen by the charity to offer gambling-specific money guidance across the UK. The report, “Bridging the Gap between Gambling Support and Debt Advice,” includes assessments from Dr Xia Lin (Toynbee Hall) and Professor Alessio D’Angelo (University of Derby) and finds a significant shortfall in joined-up debt advice for people harmed by gambling.

The evaluation shows one-to-one guidance via MGS improves financial stability, reduces debt burden, supports recovery and boosts wellbeing. MGS began as pilots in 2022, expanded nationally in 2023, and receives referrals from the National Gambling Helpline and GamCare treatment services. GamCare urges continued research and targeted funding as the sector moves to a new statutory gambling levy under NHS, OHID and UKRI oversight.

Key Points

GamCare funded MGS; the published evaluation is the service’s first formal assessment.
The report finds a “critical gap” between gambling support services and specialised debt advice in the UK.
One-to-one money guidance led to improved budgeting, reduced anxiety, lower debt and better overall wellbeing for participants.
76% of National Gambling Helpline callers report gambling-linked financial difficulty; 31% cite financial struggles as a key reason for gambling.
MGS launched pilots in 2022 and expanded nationally in 2023, accepting referrals from the Helpline and GamCare treatment pathways.
GamCare calls for the statutory levy framework to fund research into wider social harms (debt, domestic abuse) and develop specialist treatment pathways, particularly for women.

Content summary

The Money Guidance Service evaluation demonstrates tangible benefits from tailored financial guidance for people affected by gambling harm. Users reported concrete changes—better budgeting, reduced anxiety and renewed confidence about meeting basic needs. Stakeholders in both gambling-harm support and debt-advice fields recognised MGS as effectively bridging a long-standing service gap.

GamCare highlights the importance of embedding this work into the wider treatment and prevention architecture as the sector transitions to a statutory gambling levy. Under the new model OHID will lead prevention funding, the NHS will fund treatment and UKRI will manage research; GamCare wants targeted research funding for social harms and specialised care routes.

Context and relevance

This report arrives as the UK overhauls how gambling support is funded and commissioned. For policymakers, treatment providers and operators, the evaluation underlines where current services fall short and shows a proven model (MGS) that reduces harm. The findings are relevant to commissioning decisions under the new levy and to anyone involved in player protection, charity funding or frontline debt advice.

It also strengthens the evidence base for integrated, specialist approaches to gambling-related financial harm, and presses for research and service design that factor in linked problems such as domestic abuse and gender-specific needs.

Why should I read this?

Short answer: because this tells you where the system actually fails—and what works. If you work in player protection, treatment, policy or funding, the MGS evaluation gives practical proof that tailored money guidance reduces harm and should be part of funded care. It’s a quick read with real-world evidence, recommendations and calls that will shape who gets money and how under the new levy.

Author style

Punchy: GamCare’s evaluation isn’t just academic—it’s actionable. The charity is using evidence to push for the funding and research changes the sector needs. If your role touches regulation, commissioning or frontline support, this matters.