SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
GamCare will no longer operate its gambling harm prevention and education programme for children and under-18s in Britain.
The treatment support charity has announced the “difficult decision” to end its specialist Young People’s Programme, which will be shut down by the end of September 2025. The decision was taken due to a lack of sustainable funding.
The charity informed the media that:
“From October 2025, GamCare will no longer provide education, prevention or outreach programmes aimed at reducing gambling harm experienced by children and young people, nor will it offer specific treatment and support services for under-18s.”
GamCare has operated its Young People’s Programme since 2020, helping to support and educate over 250,000 children, young people, and stakeholders within local communities.
The closure of the programme will not impact GamCare’s core treatment services, which continue to provide frontline support and resources for individuals experiencing gambling addiction or those harmed by someone else’s gambling.
The National Gambling Helpline (Freephone 0808 8020 133) will continue to offer dedicated support for children and under-18s, with trained advisors providing specialist assistance.
Regarding wider policy development on gambling protections for under-18s in the UK, GamCare confirmed it will maintain its Youth Advisory Board, “to ensure young people’s voices continue to inform our work.”
GamCare’s core focus will remain the provision of high-quality, accessible support to the thousands of people who use its services each year—both those struggling with gambling directly and those affected by someone else’s gambling.
While GamCare’s direct youth education and outreach services will cease, dedicated education and early-intervention support for children and young people will continue to be available through the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM).
YGAM delivers evidence-based programmes to help prevent gaming and gambling harms among those aged 7 to 24, alongside training for teachers, youth workers, and parents. Its work is central to the UK’s national Gambling Education Framework and continues to play a vital role in safeguarding younger audiences from gambling-related risks.
New Leadership and Strategic Direction
2025 also sees GamCare begin a new chapter under the leadership of Victoria Corbishley, former UK Director at the British Red Cross. Corbishley takes on the role of CEO at a pivotal moment for all organisations involved in the prevention and treatment of gambling harms.
Her appointment coincides with the implementation of a new statutory RET (Research, Education and Treatment) Levy, expected to be applied from 1 April 2025.
The new system will see the NHS, alongside the newly established Prevention Commissioner and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), serve as the primary stewards of the Levy’s guaranteed £100 million in annual funding for programmes across British communities.
Irrespective of these structural changes, GamCare will continue to uphold its mandate to expand the accessibility of treatment services for those seeking help. Furthermore, the charity remains committed to its collaborative efforts to raise awareness of gambling harms across communities and businesses, recognising them as both a social disorder and a mental health issue.
