GamCare has increased its financial reserves to almost £16 million as the charity prepares for continued uncertainty surrounding Britain’s new statutory gambling levy and the reshaping of gambling harm treatment funding.
The organisation’s 2025/26 Trustee Annual Report covers the final financial year under the previous voluntary levy structure, before statutory levy commissioning began in April 2026. The new system replaces direct industry-funded arrangements with a government-controlled framework for financing research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm.
GamCare reported income of £19.9 million for the year, compared with £20.3 million previously. Expenditure decreased from £16.1 million to £14.8 million, leaving a surplus of approximately £5 million.
That lifted total reserves from around £11 million to almost £16 million, including £2.4 million of restricted funds. Trustees have also allocated £2 million specifically for digital development as GamCare modernises its online and self-guided support infrastructure.
The charity has set an operating reserve target of between £9 million and £11 million, citing continuing uncertainty over funding arrangements, changes in cashflow as more services are paid for in arrears and the need for further technology investment.
Industry donations declined sharply during the transition, falling from £7.5 million to £4.2 million as direct operator contributions under the former funding model came to an end.
Helpline and treatment demand remains high
Despite the organisational changes, GamCare continued to report substantial demand for its frontline services during the year.
Its National Gambling Helpline and online channels handled more than 114,000 contacts, while over 11,400 referrals were made into treatment and other support services.
A total of 2,811 clients received more than 10,300 treatment sessions. People entering treatment received a full assessment in an average of 2.4 days, while almost 97% of respondents completing treatment reported a positive change in their circumstances.
Average Problem Gambling Severity Index scores declined from 14.4 at the beginning of treatment to 3.3 at completion. Measures of psychological distress also fell by more than half.
GamCare additionally reached more than 17,100 people through education, prevention and outreach activity before gambling-related harm escalated. More than 2,100 professionals were trained to identify gambling harm across areas including healthcare, social care, financial services, criminal justice and the Armed Forces.
Demand for specialist financial guidance also increased significantly. The number of people receiving that support rose from 354 to 969 during the reporting period, reinforcing concerns about the connection between gambling harm, debt and wider household financial pressure.
Independent assessment backs service standards
GamCare’s annual report follows a Care Quality Commission assessment carried out in January 2026.
The review found its National Gambling Helpline, online operations and community treatment services performed positively across all five CQC assessment areas: safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership.
The assessment also found no evidence that the source of GamCare’s previous gambling-industry funding had influenced treatment or support decisions. Commissioners gave the organisation an average satisfaction score of 4.9 out of five.
GamCare Chair Margot Daly said maintaining service quality and continuity had remained the board’s central priority during the funding transition.
New levy contracts reshape GamCare’s funding
The statutory levy has raised just under £120 million for gambling harm research, prevention and treatment, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. A separate Gambling Levy Transition Fund was also established to reduce the risk of service gaps while the new commissioning system was introduced.
GamCare has already secured funding under the new framework. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities awarded the charity £4.04 million through its 2026-2028 gambling harms prevention and resilience programme.
The organisation also continues to operate the National Gambling Helpline and provide treatment and outreach services under new commissioning arrangements in England.
In Scotland, GamCare has secured funding to provide treatment in the Highlands and Islands, including Shetland and Orkney, under an agreement running until March 2029.
However, further changes are already approaching. The government plans to abolish NHS England and transfer responsibilities to Integrated Care Boards and regional commissioning structures. GamCare has warned that existing one-year treatment contracts mean another major commissioning process will be required before April 2027.
The charity said its enlarged reserves, established treatment network and experience working with public-sector commissioners should provide additional protection against disruption as the statutory levy system develops.