More people seeking guidance on gambling losses, GamCare says
The UK charity says the number of people using its Money Guidance Service doubled in 2025.
UK.- A record number of people are seeking guidance after suffering gambling losses, according to new data released by the safer gambling charity GamCare and debt support provider PayPlan. GamCare says the number of people using its Money Guidance Service rose by 153 per cent in 2025, reaching 1,954.
Meanwhile, PayPlan said that January 2026 saw a record demand for its services, with contacts up by 22 per cent year-on-year to 21,000. Its specialists observed increasing links between debt and gambling harm. Over £7.2m worth of collective debt was reported in 2025, an average of £21,269 for each person. That’s a rise from £2.8m in 2024.
In January 2026, GamCare saw a record 233 people seeking guidance due to gambling-related losses, almost triple the amount in the same month a year before. In 2025 as a whole, it directed 243 people to PayPlan’s services in 2025, up 34 per cent from 181 the year before.
Emma Gibbons, Vulnerability Lead at PayPlan, said: “We’re seeing first-hand how gambling-related harm is increasingly linked to debt. The rise in referrals from GamCare reflects the growing number of people who feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn after suffering losses.”
“We know early, compassionate debt advice can make a real difference, through helping people stabilise their finances, understand their options, and begin to regain control. We’re proud to work alongside GamCare to ensure everyone that needs it receives non-judgemental support.”
Kathy Wade, GamCare’s Money Guidance Service Manager, said: “We are concerned that people are telling us they are looking towards gambling to help them cover essential bills, as households feel squeezed by the cost-of-living crisis, but end up in a worse financial situation as a result. We realise that many people gamble safely and do so to win money, but we would not encourage anyone to gamble with the goal of making extra money to cover essential bills.”
“Our team are here for anyone who may be unsure of the financial impact that gambling may be having on them, whether their own gambling or someone else’s. Contact GamCare’s National Gambling Helpline now on 0808 8020 133 for more information on how you can get started, and we can help you get back on track.”
GamCare runs the UK’s National Gambling Helpline, a 24/7, 365-day-a-year helpline where anyone can receive free, confidential support for gambling harms. It established the Money Guidance Service in 2022 to support people with the financial impact of gambling harm, which people can access for free when calling the National Gambling Helpline.
As confirmed last week, the charity will be one of the main recipients of Gambling Levy funding via the new Gambling Harms Prevention VCSE Fund.
