GamCare highlights service disruption as statutory levy transition continues

GamCare has highlighted the pressures created by Britain’s transition to a statutory gambling levy funding system, with its latest reporting pointing to disruption and coordination challenges as gambling harm services moved away from the previous voluntary funding model. The charity has called for an early review of commissioning governance before further structural changes are introduced.

The issue comes at an important point in the development of gambling harm treatment and prevention across Great Britain. The statutory levy became operational for funding purposes from April 2026, replacing the previous arrangement in which voluntary industry contributions supported a range of treatment, prevention and research activities.

GamCare’s 2025/26 reporting period covered the final year of the voluntary funding system. The charity said it continued to provide support during a period of substantial organisational and commissioning change.

GamCare reports pressure during funding transition

According to GamCare’s annual reporting, the shift toward statutory levy commissioning created practical challenges for the organisations responsible for delivering gambling harm services. The charity described the period as one of the most significant changes in its history.

The transition meant that commissioning responsibility became more distributed across public-sector organisations in England, Scotland and Wales. Different bodies were operating within their own commissioning structures and at different stages of implementation, creating a more complex environment for service providers.

GamCare has indicated that this transition placed pressure on continuity in some areas. In response to changes and uncertainties affecting commissioning arrangements, the charity used existing infrastructure and financial resources to help maintain access to support.

The central concern is not the principle of statutory levy funding but how the new system is coordinated. For people seeking help, changes in commissioning arrangements can have practical consequences if funding decisions, contracts and service pathways are not aligned closely enough.

Statutory levy changes the funding model

The introduction of the statutory gambling levy represents a major change to the way gambling-related harm services are financed in Great Britain. The government established the levy to create a more structured system for funding research, prevention and treatment.

Under the new framework, treatment funding is commissioned through public bodies rather than the previous voluntary contribution model. In England, NHS England has a central role in treatment commissioning while the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is involved in prevention commissioning. Scotland and Wales have their own arrangements through relevant public authorities.

The government has also acknowledged that effective governance and coordination will be important as the new system develops. The long-term objective is to establish more consistent pathways, stronger accountability and clearer oversight of the funding allocated to gambling harm services.

For charities such as GamCare, however, the transition has involved adapting to different commissioning processes, contract timelines and regional structures.

Regional commissioning arrangements evolve

GamCare continues to play a significant role in providing gambling harm support. Its services include the National Gambling Helpline alongside treatment, outreach and other forms of assistance for people affected by gambling.

The charity has retained treatment and support responsibilities in a number of English regions, including the East Midlands, London, the South East and Yorkshire and the Humber. GamCare has also continued providing services in Scotland, including support in the Highlands and Islands.

The charity has separately confirmed that its previous helpline arrangement in Wales was not renewed under the new system. The Welsh Government announced plans for a new Wales Gambling Helpline to be operated by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board from April 2026.

That change illustrates the broader shift taking place across the three nations. Rather than relying on a single established commissioning framework, services are increasingly being organised through different public-sector structures.

GamCare has sought to support continuity while adapting to the new arrangements. Its wider network includes telephone, online and treatment services intended to give people multiple ways to access assistance.

Support demand remains significant

Despite the challenges surrounding funding and commissioning, GamCare’s latest figures show continued demand for gambling harm support.

Between April 2025 and March 2026, the charity said its National Gambling Helpline and online services handled more than 114,000 contacts. During the same period, GamCare reported more than 11,400 onward referrals into treatment and support and approximately 17,700 connections to wider services.

The charity also reported that people entering treatment were generally assessed quickly. The average time to a full assessment was 2.4 days, while more than 10,300 treatment sessions were delivered to 2,811 clients during the year.

GamCare said nearly 97% of people completing treatment reported a positive change in their circumstances. It also reported a reduction in average scores on a clinical measure of gambling harm from 14.4 at the beginning of treatment to 3.3 at the end.

The figures underline why continuity remains an important consideration during the commissioning transition. The demand for services exists independently of the funding structure and people seeking help may not be able to wait for lengthy administrative processes.

GamCare calls for earlier governance review

Against this background, GamCare has called for greater attention to the governance of the new commissioning framework.

Victoria Corbishley, Chief Executive of GamCare, commented:

“The first phase of levy-funded commissioning has generated important learning about how services can be commissioned and coordinated effectively across a complex system.”

The statement reflects the charity’s position that the early experience of the statutory levy should inform the development of future commissioning arrangements.

GamCare’s NHS England treatment contracts are currently structured for one year. This means another commissioning process will be required before April 2027.

That timetable is particularly relevant because the UK Government has also announced plans affecting the future organisation of NHS England. Changes to commissioning responsibilities are expected to form part of a broader restructuring process involving Integrated Care Boards.

From GamCare’s perspective, the combination of levy implementation and wider health system reform increases the importance of maintaining clear responsibilities for treatment and support.

Focus shifts to continuity and accountability

The experience of the first stage of statutory levy commissioning may provide important lessons for policymakers, public bodies and service providers.

A system involving several commissioning organisations can potentially bring gambling harm treatment closer to wider health and public services. At the same time, such a structure requires clear roles, reliable funding decisions and effective communication between national bodies, regional commissioners and service providers.

For charities delivering frontline support, the effectiveness of the system ultimately depends on whether people can access appropriate help without avoidable delays.

GamCare has indicated that it is willing to work with the government on an early governance review. Such a review could examine how commissioning responsibilities interact across England, Scotland and Wales, how funding decisions are communicated and how continuity can be protected when contracts or service structures change.

The charity’s position does not appear to challenge the statutory levy itself. Rather, its emphasis is on ensuring that the implementation of the new model works effectively for people who depend on treatment, helpline and support services.

A critical period for gambling harm services

The statutory levy marks a significant change in Britain’s approach to financing responses to gambling-related harm. Its introduction provides an opportunity to establish a clearer public-sector framework while creating new expectations around accountability and coordination.

GamCare enters this new environment with an established service network and a substantial volume of activity recorded during the final year of the previous system. Its reported helpline contacts, referrals and treatment outcomes demonstrate the continuing scale of demand for support.

The next stage will therefore be measured not only by how much funding is available but also by how effectively that funding reaches frontline services.

The transition has already provided evidence that structural change can place pressure on service continuity when commissioning arrangements move at different speeds. Addressing those issues early could help reduce uncertainty before the next round of contracts and wider NHS changes take effect.

Conclusion

GamCare’s latest reporting places the focus firmly on the practical consequences of moving gambling harm services into the statutory levy era. The new funding model represents a major policy shift, but its long-term success will depend on how effectively commissioning bodies work together and how reliably services can remain accessible during periods of change.

The charity’s call for an early review of commissioning governance is therefore part of a wider discussion about implementation, coordination and accountability rather than simply funding levels. As further commissioning decisions approach and changes to the health system are considered, maintaining continuity for people seeking support will remain an important test of the new framework.

For policymakers and commissioners, the experience of the first levy-funded period offers an opportunity to identify weaknesses before they become embedded. For organisations such as GamCare, the priority remains ensuring that people affected by gambling harm can continue to reach appropriate support when they need it.

FAQs

What is GamCare?
GamCare is a UK charity that provides information, advice and support to people affected by gambling-related harm. It also operates the National Gambling Helpline and provides treatment and other support services.

What is the statutory gambling levy?
The statutory gambling levy is a mandatory funding mechanism introduced by the UK Government to finance research, prevention and treatment relating to gambling-related harm.

Why has GamCare raised concerns about the levy transition?
GamCare has identified challenges linked to the transition from voluntary funding to statutory commissioning, particularly around coordination, commissioning structures and continuity of services.

When did the statutory gambling levy system begin?
The new statutory levy commissioning arrangements began from April 2026, following the final financial year of the previous voluntary funding system.

What happened to GambleAware?
GambleAware entered a managed closure process following the introduction of the statutory levy. Its previous role in distributing voluntary industry contributions was replaced by the new statutory funding framework.

Does GamCare still operate the National Gambling Helpline?
Yes. GamCare continues to operate the National Gambling Helpline, which is available free of charge around the clock through telephone and online channels.

Which areas does GamCare currently support?
GamCare provides services across several parts of England and Scotland. Its current regional provision includes the East Midlands, London, the South East, Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West and Scotland.

What changed for gambling support services in Wales?
The Welsh Government announced a new Wales Gambling Helpline to be operated by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board from April 2026, replacing GamCare’s previous commissioned helpline arrangement in Wales.

Who is Victoria Corbishley?
Victoria Corbishley is the Chief Executive Officer of GamCare. She joined the charity as CEO in 2025 during a period of significant change in gambling harm service commissioning.

Why is commissioning governance important?
Clear commissioning governance helps establish responsibility for funding, service standards and coordination. Effective governance can also reduce uncertainty and support continuity for people who rely on gambling harm treatment and support.