Useful links

Responsible gambling


 

Need help?

Help and support is available for people who experience problems with gambling and for their relatives and friends.

The role of the Gambling Commission

The Gambling Commission recognises that gambling can lead to a range of problems for a small minority of individuals and their families. We have a responsibility to measure and monitor the proportion of adults in the UK with gambling problems. This is done through the British Gambling Prevalence Survey. We work closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB) to ensure that:

  • problem gambling is adequately understood and researched
  • our policies ensure that gambling licence holders act in a socially responsible way towards their customers.

RGSB’s role is to provide independent advice to the Gambling Commission, and via the Gambling Commission, DCMS on the strategy and priorities for research education and treatment.

Research, education and treatment funding

On 1 April 2012, the Responsible Gambling Fund and GREaT merged into the Responsible Gambling Trust.  

The Responsible Gambling Trust raises the required funding and delivers appropriate programmes for research, education and treatment, taking full account of the priorities recommended by RGSB.

At present the bulk of the funding raised funds the work of GamCare which offers telephone, face-to-face and online counselling services, and the Gordon Moody Association, which provides residential treatment. Also funded are a range of research and education initiatives including the Gamble Aware website.

This structure build on the previous arrangements set out by the review of research, education, and treatment carried out in 2008.

How do licence holders make a contribution to the research, education, and treatment of problem gambling?

We require all licensed operators, including society lotteries, to make a contribution towards research, education and treatment of problem gamblers.

The Responsible Gambling Trust raises funds, mainly from the gambling industry through voluntary donations, to support research, education and treatment of problem gambling.   Fundraising targets for the gambling industry are agreed with the government and with the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board.  However, in the event that the voluntary system fails to generate sufficient funds, the Gambling Act 2005 provides for a levy to be introduced on licensed operators.

In line with our approach elsewhere, we do not seek to tell operators how much their contribution should be, nor do we insist that the Responsible Gambling Trust is the beneficiary.  However, donating to the Responsible Gambling Trust does provide operators with a clear audit trail detailing their contribution.

It is also worth noting that if you are a licensed society lottery and a member of either the Hospice Lotteries Association or the Lotteries Council then we understand that a donation to the Responsible Gambling Trust has already been made on your behalf via a deduction from your annual membership fee paid to those bodies.

Are offshore gambling operators required to contribute to research, education and treatment?

Offshore gambling operators are not required by the Gambling Commission to contribute to research, education and treatment although many do.

Need help?

If you would like information about gambling, including how to gamble safely, visit the Gamble Aware website.

If you or someone you know has been affected by gambling you can contact Gamcare on 0808 8020133 or by visiting the GamCare website. 

Listed below are some of the organisations and services available in the UK:

Organisation Description
Action for Children
(previously the National Children's Home)		 Helps children achieve their full potential, through services that support some of the most vulnerable and excluded children in the UK.
The Christian Centre for Gambling Rehabilitation
 The Christian Centre for Gambling Rehabilitation is a Chinese Christian charity (registered charity no: 1083061) established in 1996. They help mainly Chinese-speaking problem gamblers to stop gambling and recover from their addiction and its adverse effects, with a Christian approach. They provide information, advice and support services which include counselling, money advice and group meetings to pathological gamblers and their relatives and friends.
Citizens Advice Helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice, and by influencing policymakers.
Counselling Directory Provides the UK with a huge counselling support network, enabling those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs.
Count Me Out A not for profit social enterprise whose aim is to help vulnerable children and adults who are addicted to, harmed or exploited by gambling by promoting self-exclusion and social responsibility.
Debt Advice Foundation A UK debt advice charity offering free, confidential support and advice to anyone worried about debt.
Debt Support Trust

0800 058 0226		 Debt Support Trust is a not for profit debt charity (SC041902) with trained, friendly debt advisors ready to advise you on your available debt solutions.
GamAid A not for profit online community organisation to help the friends and families of people with gambling problems and addictions, as well as gamblers themselves. Provides links to help and allows users to email counsellors or chat with them online about the problems they are experiencing, along with a forum to give and receive support to each other.
Gam-Anon

0121 233 1335		 Support to those affected by another person's gambling. A fellowship of men and women who are husbands, wives, relatives or close friends who have been affected by problem gambling.
Gamblers Anonymous
National helpline number:
02073 843040		 A fellowship of men and women who have joined together to do something about their own gambling problem and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same.
Gambleaware.co.uk A website that gives advice on gambling responsibly. Responsible gambling means making choices based on all the facts, and staying in control of how much time and money you spend.
Gamblock Gamblock helps prevent gambling sites running on your PC. Once downloaded, users will be directed to the GamBlock website when trying to access a gambling website. The GamBlock website also provides advice to people who have problems controlling their gambling.
GamCare
National helpline number:
0808 8020133		 A registered charity that takes a non-judgemental approach to gambling, and a leading authority on the provision of information, advice and practical help in addressing the social impact of gambling.
Gordon Moody Association
Telephone number: 01384 241292
 Provides residential treatment for severely addicted gamblers, as well as providing outreach support and internet counselling service.
National Debtline
National helpline number: 08088 084000		 Provides free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems.
NHS Problem Gambling ClinicTelephone: 020 7534 6699 or 020 7534 6687 The Clinic treats problem gamblers living in England and Wales who are aged 16 and over. It assesses the needs of problem gamblers as well as those of their partners and family members, and offers evidence based treatments as well as interventions to assist with financial, employment, social and relationship difficulties.
Responsible Gambling Trust Telephone: 020 7287 1994 The Responsible Gambling Trust is committed to minimising the level of problem gambling in Britain through effective education and prevention techniques, which stop people getting into problems with their gambling, and ensuring that those that do develop problems receive fast and effective treatment and support. 
Samaritans
UK helpline number: 08457 909090		 Samaritans is available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.
Telephone Helplines Association
Telephone: 0207 089 6321		 Recognised as the main source of specialist information relating to the setting up and running of non-profit helplines in the UK and Ireland. Provides advice, consultancy and training on matters relating to the provision of quality helpline services for the voluntary and statutory sectors.

 

Page last reviewed: April 2012