Increase in Number of People Accessing the National Gambling Support Network

GambleAware, the leading charity and strategic commissioner of gambling harms prevention and treatment services in Great Britain, has published the latest annual report for the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN), which shows an increase in the number of people treated for gambling harm through the network.

The new report shows that almost 11,000 people received support or treatment from the NGSN between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024. Of those, almost 7500 received structured treatment such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), one-to-one support or residential care. This was a 12% increase in the number of people with gambling harm who received treatment from the previous year. This year, for the first time, the report also outlines the number of people who received early intervention for gambling harm, with 3291 people receiving early intervention and support to talk about their gambling, and 3048 people who received early intervention and then went on to receive treatment.

The NGSN is commissioned by GambleAware and provides free, confidential treatment and support services for gambling harm, working with the NHS and other third sector organisations. It offers a range of integrated, holistic treatment and interventions which are tailored to an individual’s specific needs. The network operates across in England, Scotland and Wales, and is available for anyone who is experiencing harm from gambling, including those affected by someone else’s gambling. The NGSN offers three tiers of treatment and support:

Tier 2 – initial early intervention and support for people worried about their gambling, which may involve speaking to a trained professional from one of the NGSN’s regional or national services who will give initial support and if treatment is required talk people through their options.

Tier 3 – which could include forms of treatment such as one-to-one support, group treatment or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Tier 4 – the most specialised and intensive level of care within the NGSN, where a person stays at a residential treatment centre.

The report also shows the speed with which people received support from the NGSN, with 50% of people looking for treatment having their first appointment within six days of making contact with the NGSN and 75% within twelve days.

Outcomes from treatment were also overwhelmingly positive, with 95% of those who completed their treatment seeing an improvement. Among those who completed treatment, the rate of “problem gambling” fell from 87% to 10% between initial assessment and completion of treatment.

The figures in the report also show the severe harms that gambling can have on all parts of people’s lives. Among people receiving treatment for their gambling, two thirds (66%) reported being in debt due to gambling, 24% had experienced a relationship loss and 11% had experienced a job loss because of their gambling.

As well as the increase in the number of people treated, the report also showed a trend where the proportion of clients seeking help from the NGSN due to another person’s gambling (known as affected others) has increased over time. The rate of affected others seeking support was higher for the year at 15% than the past five-year average of 13%.

Anna Hargrave, GambleAware Chief Commissioning and Strategy Officer, said: “In 2023, we launched new commissioning arrangements that expanded the NGSN’s scope to include prevention and early intervention, in addition to treatment. This means that our services are now working much more closely with local communities, reducing stigma and removing the barriers to accessing treatment.

“Not only have we reached more people, we have been able to identify and support people at a much earlier stage and that is part of the reason why we have seen an increase in people receiving treatment and support. Our new commissioning arrangements also included the addition of the Primary Care Gambling Service who work closely with our third sector providers enabling us to support more people across the NGSN.

“We look forward to the introduction of the statutory levy on gambling operators and the future gambling harms commissioning system, and we will continue to work in partnership with all those in the sector including the NHS.”

Professor Dame Clare Gerada, Director of the National Primary Care Gambling Service, said: “We work closely with third-sector organisations and charities to care for patients and their affected others experiencing gambling-related harms. Working as part of the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN), we share our clinical expertise and skills in gambling-related harm to those network members and learn from each other. This allows us to enhance the care all of us can provide to patients and ensures those experiencing gambling harm receive the most appropriate care and support when needed.”