Summary:
- Gambling helpline saw a total of 52,370 calls and chats in 2023, a new record for the service
- The increase is an encouraging development in the UK’s gambling harm prevention campaign
- The helpline plays a vital role in helping individuals struggling with gambling issues
The UK’s National Gambling Helpline reached a new milestone in 2023, as the number of people reaching out to the service during the year hit an all-time high.
GamCare, which operates the helpline, revealed in a recent blog post that the service accommodated a record 52,370 calls and online chats in 2023.
Massive Increase in People Seeking Support
The past year saw a “landmark climb” in the number of people coming forward to seek support for their gambling, and while the rising numbers are concerning, GamCare sees it as a positive development in the fight against gambling harm.
The 52,370 calls and online chats registered by the helpline in 2023 represent a 24% increase from 2022, with August 2023 considered the busiest month on record. The holiday season was also a busy period for the helpline as it catered to calls from people who were concerned about someone else’s gambling, as well as those who were troubled by the volume of gambling advertisements on television.
In December 2023 in particular, the number of calls jumped by 39% year-on-year, the busiest Christmas period ever recorded.
In an effort to encourage more people to seek help and support, Helpline launched a WhatsApp channel in February 2023 which recorded a total of 6,000 interactions throughout the year. Nearly 7,000 people were also able to obtain a free Gamban license via TalkBanStop, a partnership involving GamCare, Gamban, and GAMSTOP.
Support Services Play Crucial Role in Preventing Gambling Harm
Samantha Turnton, Head of Remote Support Services at GamCare, said that while the record increase in calls to the helpline is quite concerning, it indicates that more and more people are seeking help at an earlier stage, which is an invaluable step to prevent gambling harm from escalating further down the line.
Turnton assured UK residents that the helpline is available 24/7 and that they can always discuss their issues, regardless of what stage they are at.
Commenting on the record calls received by the helpline in 2023, Anna Hargrave, Chief Commissioning & Strategy Officer at GambleAware, said the increase underlines the vital role that support services play in the prevention of gambling harm. She said these support services should be among the top priorities when the mandatory gambling levy is implemented.
