Key points:
- GambleAware reports a 12% increase in people who received treatment, totalling 10,754 people
- Out of those who completed treatment, 95% reported an improvement
- Early intervention support figures published for the first time
GambleAware has released its annual statistics report for the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN), for the period between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
A total of 10,754 people received treatment from NGSN providers, which was balanced through three tiers of treatment and support.
Tier two contains initial early intervention and support, which may involve speaking to a trained professional about problem gambling and potential routes for further help. 3,291 people received help at this level and did not require any further escalation.
Tier three involves treatment such as one-to-one support, group treatment, or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which was provided to 6,931 people.
Tier four is the most specialised and intensive level of care within the NGSN, where a person stays at a residential treatment centre, and this was given to 532 people.
Anna Hargrave, GambleAware Chief Commissioning and Strategy Officer, said: “In 2023, we launched new commissioning arrangements that expanded the NGSN’s scope to include prevention and early intervention, in addition to treatment.
“This means that our services are now working much more closely with local communities, reducing stigma and removing the barriers to accessing treatment.
“Not only have we reached more people, we have been able to identify and support people at a much earlier stage and that is part of the reason why we have seen an increase in people receiving treatment and support.”
Out of the 7,463 people receiving tier two or three treatment, 15% of these were from people seeking help due to someone else's gambling. This marks an increase compared to the five-year average of 13%.
Good to know: There’s an increasing trend of people reaching out who do not gamble themselves, but who are reaching out due to harm from others, with a record high this year
Accounting for just over two-thirds, 70% identified as male and the highest demographic of people were aged between 30 and 39 years old.
Half of the people who reached out received their first appointment within six days, and 75% within 12 days.
Among those who completed treatment, 95% reported an improvement and the rate of ‘problem gambling’ fell from 87% to 10% between initial assessment and completion of treatment.
Earlier today, the Labour Government announced a £100m levy on gambling companies which is intended to go towards research, education and treatment for gambling harm.
