New Levy-Funded £1.3m Gambling Helpline in Wales to Launch in April

A specialist gambling harm treatment and helpline service will launch in Wales on April 1, which will be funded by £1.3 million a year generated from the statutory levy.

The Wales Gambling Helpline will provide information, advice and support to anyone affected by gambling-related harms, including family members.

Currently, Welsh residents can use the gambling helpline service provided across England and Wales by gambling harm charity GamCare, but this will now be devolved to a specific service in Wales.

This new service will also take over from those provided by charity GambleAware, which is working towards a managed closure on March 31. The new services will evolve as care pathways are refined.

Statutory levy funding

The UK’s statutory levy was implemented on April 6 last year and was one of the standout proposals from the government’s 2023 Gambling White Paper. The levy requires all licensed operators to pay a percentage of their gross gambling yield to contribute towards efforts to treat and prevent gambling harm. The rate ranges from 0.1% to 1.1%, dependent on the specific gambling-related activity.

In its first year in operation, the levy raised approximately £120 million for research, prevention and treatment in Great Britain. The Welsh government appointed Public Health Wales as the lead prevention co-ordinator for Wales and NHS Wales Performance and Improvement as the lead treatment co-ordinator for Wales, to support the implementation of the levy in the country.

Issues with the health board

The gambling helpline service will be provided by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. This is a potential point of concern with regards to player safety, as the board has been in special measures (level 5) since 2023.

Special measures is the highest level of escalation for NHS health boards, indicating critical, systemic failures in governance, leadership, performance, and finances.

“A landmark moment”

Sarah Murphy, Minister for Health and Wellbeing, said:

“I am immensely grateful to all organisations who support people in Wales affected by gambling, including those commissioned by GambleAware through its treatment and support networks. I recognise the crucial role these organisations have played.

“This is a landmark moment marking the first time specialist gambling treatment and support services will be available from the NHS in Wales. The helpline will be a form of open access support available to people who need it the most and fits into the ambitions of our Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

“Guided by the evidence, we’re confident this approach is the most effective way to deliver essential support for both prevention and treatment.”

Dr Faye Graver, clinical lead for gambling treatment services at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said:

“We are establishing a specialist gambling treatment service and the Wales Gambling Helpline to provide much-needed support for people struggling with gambling addiction.

“Research shows tens of thousands of people in Wales need support for gambling-related harms and this treatment service will provide this from referral and triage through to aftercare.”

Problem gambling rates rising

Research from British regulator the Gambling Commission showed the percentage of problem gamblers in Great Britain increased slightly to 2.7% for 2024. This was up from 2.5% for 2023. Gamblers classed as problem gamblers when scoring eight or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index.

That data was produced from the second Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB). The GSBG has been showing much higher problem gambling rates than those shown in previous surveys.

The Commission previously announced in its quarterly telephone survey that in the year to December 2022, a total of 0.2% of 4,000 respondents classed as problem gamblers.