GambleAware Warns About Increase in Demand for UK Gambling Treatment and Support Services

GambleAware, a charity built through voluntary donations that focuses on keeping individuals safe from gambling harms, has warned the public in the UK about an increase in demand for gambling treatment and support services.

The organisation singled out the fact that the number of people in the UK seeking treatment and support services due to gambling problems has doubled since 2020.

While GambleAware has said that it’s a good thing that more people are actively searching for help, it still pointed out that such a sharp increase in demand is something that should be looked into.

What the Numbers Say

GambleAware calls upon a study from YouGov, which suggests that one in three Brits who are experiencing gambling problems want treatment, support, or help. The organisation points out that just five years ago, this number stood at one in five.

The data from the same report suggests that 3.8% of people in the UK have gambling problems, up from 2.4% in 2020.

However, at the same time, the Gambling Commission has reported that gambling harm has remained relatively the same over the past five years.

Another issue highlighted by GambleAware is that 8.1% of Brits are affected by someone they know, either a friend or a family member, having a gambling problem. According to the numbers from YouGov, this number stood at 6.5% in 2020.

The UK already offers help to those who want to stop playing. Individuals who want to self-exclude themselves from participating in online gambling can do so by joining GAMSTOP. It’s a free service that allows you to register for a set time period and prevent yourself from accessing online gambling sites until it expires.

Since decisions like this are often made in the heat of the moment, many Brits who sign up for the program still decide to continue playing. They can do this in a number of non Gamstop online casinos UK has to offer.

Calls for Stricter Advertising Regulations

In the past few years, more and more Brits have called upon the government to impose restrictions on advertising gambling on TV and in video games. GambleAware’s stance is that there should be a restriction on promoting casinos online.

The organisation’s CEO, Zoë Osmond, pointed out that the UK needs stricter regulations requiring casinos to include health warnings in all their adverts. The organisation's opinion is also that there’s a need for stricter rules when it comes to promoting casinos online and a full ban on promoting gambling in stadiums and other sports venues.

Some pushes to minimise gambling advertisements in sports have been successful. All EPL clubs have voted in favor of banning gambling sponsors from their shirts. The new rule will come in place with the start of the 2026/27 season.

Issues over Prize Draws

Another issue that’s been brought up a lot in recent months are prize draws and the gambling problems they can lead to. YouGov suggests that one in nine gamblers in the UK experience issues because of participating in these competitions.

GambleAware expressed its worries over the fact that prize draws aren’t regulated as a licensed form of gambling, and that UK residents may not be aware of the problems they create.

The UK Lotteries Council has been lobbying for prize draws to be considered as a form of gambling for quite some time. Its stance on the activity is that it’s unfair and unregulated.

GambleAware to Cease Operations

With Great Britain having introduced a new mandatory gambling levy, GambleAware is set to stop operating in March 2026. The organisation will transition its work to the UK government, and a new statutory system that deals with gambling harm will be introduced.

Throughout its existence, the charity has helped tens of thousands of Brits manage their gambling habits and received much praise for its work.

Following the announcement of the new levy, the people behind GambleAware said that their main concern continues to be keeping people safe from gambling harm and that they’ll do everything in their power to make the transition as smooth as possible.

GambleAware has supported the idea of switching to a statutory, public health-led model for quite some time.