GamCare report highlights success of Money Guidance Service

The UK-based gambling support charity GamCare has published an evaluation report on its Money Guidance Service, a national programme designed to help people facing gambling-related financial harm. The report, entitled “Bridging the Gap between Gambling Support and Debt Advice”, assesses the service’s impact and highlights its growing role in connecting individuals with both gambling recovery and debt advice resources.

The Money Guidance Service is understood to be the first national initiative in the UK that offers tailored, gambling-specific money management support. Since its creation, it has sought to address a key problem: while many people experiencing gambling harm struggle with debt and financial instability, traditional debt advice services do not always fully understand the unique challenges associated with gambling. GamCare’s programme was created to fill that gap.

Origins of the Money Guidance Service

GamCare launched the Money Guidance Service in 2022, starting with pilot schemes in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber. The pilots were designed to test how targeted financial support could be integrated into the broader system of gambling recovery services. Following positive results and demand for broader coverage, the service was expanded nationally in 2023.

The national rollout meant that anyone contacting GamCare’s National Gambling Helpline could be referred directly to the Money Guidance Service. This integration ensured that individuals seeking support for gambling harm could also access practical help in stabilising their financial situation, often a crucial step in long-term recovery.

Independent evaluation of the service

The report was independently evaluated by Dr Xia Lin and Professor Alessio D’Angelo, two specialists in social and health research. Their findings underline that the service addresses a previously unmet need. By combining elements of gambling recovery with financial guidance, the programme has managed to create a bridge between two support sectors that previously operated with limited overlap.

According to the evaluation:

• One-to-one guidance has provided measurable improvements in financial stability, reduced personal debt, and supported individuals in regaining control over their lives.
• Many participants reported that learning to budget gave them a renewed sense of agency, helping to rebuild confidence and offering hope for the future.
• The Money Guidance Service has also played an internal role within GamCare, training National Gambling Helpline advisors to provide basic money management guidance and to make more confident referrals.
• External stakeholders in both gambling support and debt advice sectors recognised the initiative as an effective way of bridging two areas of service that had previously been disjointed.

The evaluation confirmed that the Money Guidance Service is both trusted and valued by service users. For individuals whose gambling harm has led to debt, arrears, or financial insecurity, the programme has provided holistic assistance at a critical stage in their recovery journey.

Testimonies from staff and service users

Kathy Wade, Manager of the Money Guidance Service at GamCare, welcomed the findings, stating:

“It’s fantastic to see the impact that the team has had in helping people recover from gambling-related financial issues, especially as we continue to rising costs impacted people in Britain. This report highlights the important steps the team is taking in helping people get back on their feet after gambling-related debt. We’re looking forward to implementing the recommendations of the report and continue building an excellent service which helps people get back in control of their finances.”

Her remarks reflect the growing importance of such support at a time when the rising cost of living is putting additional strain on households across the UK. For many people, gambling harm is compounded by external financial pressures, making tailored support services even more necessary.

One anonymous service user described their experience, saying:

“When I was gambling, I felt like I had completely lost control of everything. It [the Money Guidance Service] has definitely helped me achieve to be more confident with my money. I’m not as anxious anymore and I’m not worrying about where I’m going to get next week’s food shopping from.”

Such accounts highlight the real-world impact of the programme, beyond financial figures or statistics. For many individuals, regaining control over daily essentials such as food budgeting represents a profound turning point.

The scale of financial harm caused by gambling

According to data from GamCare, 76% of callers to its National Gambling Helpline report experiencing financial difficulties as a direct consequence of gambling. Furthermore, 31% of callers state that their motivation for gambling is linked to financial difficulties in the first place.

This cycle creates a dangerous feedback loop: people experiencing money problems may turn to gambling in search of a quick solution, but gambling often worsens their financial situation. The result is escalating debt, instability, and mental health strain.

The Money Guidance Service was designed to intervene in precisely these situations. By offering early-stage financial advice, including help with budgeting, debt prioritisation, and referrals to specialist debt support services, it aims to disrupt this cycle and create a foundation for long-term recovery.

Bridging two traditionally separate systems

Historically, the fields of gambling support and debt advice have operated in parallel but without extensive overlap. Debt advice organisations may have excellent resources for restructuring loans or dealing with creditors but are not always equipped to understand the addictive behaviours that drive gambling. Conversely, gambling support charities can help with behavioural recovery but may lack detailed expertise in financial law or debt management.

GamCare’s Money Guidance Service was designed to fill this structural gap. It does not replace specialist debt advice services but complements them by providing an entry point specifically tailored to people harmed by gambling. This integration ensures individuals do not fall between the cracks of two service systems.

Wider implications for public policy

The evaluation report has broader significance beyond GamCare’s operations. It suggests that national gambling support strategies could benefit from stronger integration with financial services. By ensuring that gambling-related financial harm is treated as both a health issue and a financial one, policymakers could help reduce long-term costs associated with debt, welfare reliance, and healthcare.

The findings also align with the UK government’s recent focus on reducing gambling-related harm through public health frameworks. Holistic models of care, combining financial advice with addiction recovery, are increasingly recognised as essential for addressing the wider impacts of gambling.

Future directions and recommendations

Based on the evaluation, several recommendations have been made to strengthen the Money Guidance Service further. These include:

• Expanding staff training so that more frontline advisors can provide initial money guidance.
• Increasing awareness of the service among those at risk of gambling harm.
• Building stronger partnerships with external debt advice organisations to create clearer referral pathways.
• Developing digital tools, such as budgeting apps, that integrate with the service.

GamCare has already signalled its commitment to implementing these recommendations, with the aim of continuing to evolve the Money Guidance Service into a robust national resource.

Conclusion

The publication of the evaluation report represents an important milestone for GamCare and the wider gambling support sector. The Money Guidance Service has shown itself to be a pioneering initiative, helping individuals rebuild financial stability, reduce debt, and regain confidence after gambling-related harm.

While challenges remain—particularly in addressing the scale of financial harm linked to gambling—the service has already demonstrated its effectiveness in bridging the long-standing divide between gambling support and debt advice. As financial pressures increase across the UK, its role is likely to become even more critical.

FAQs

What is GamCare’s Money Guidance Service?
It is a national programme offering gambling-specific financial support, helping people stabilise their money management after gambling-related harm.

When was the service launched?
GamCare launched pilot schemes in 2022 in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber, before rolling it out nationally in 2023.

Who evaluated the service?
The evaluation was carried out by Dr Xia Lin and Professor Alessio D’Angelo, both specialists in social and health research.

How does the service support individuals?
It provides one-to-one guidance, helps with budgeting, improves financial stability, and refers people to specialist debt advice when needed.

How does the service work with the National Gambling Helpline?
Helpline advisors can refer callers directly to the Money Guidance Service and have received training to provide basic financial support.

Why is this service important?
Most people harmed by gambling experience financial difficulties. The service bridges the gap between gambling recovery and debt advice.

What impact has it had so far?
It has reduced debt, improved budgeting skills, restored confidence, and improved overall wellbeing for many participants.

What percentage of helpline callers report financial harm?
According to GamCare, 76% of callers report financial harm, and 31% say they gamble because of financial difficulties.

Does it replace debt advice services?
No, it complements them. It provides gambling-specific financial support and refers individuals to specialist debt organisations when required.

What are the future plans for the service?
GamCare intends to expand training, strengthen partnerships, and introduce new digital tools to increase the reach and impact of the service.