British charity GamCare confirmed that hundreds of people faced disruption to problem gambling treatment during the transition to statutory levy funding. In its annual report for the period ending 31 March 2026, the organisation called the shift the most significant change in its history.
Responsibility for funding treatment services moved to five separate bodies across England, Scotland and Wales. All were at different stages of readiness and lacked unified coordination. GamCare said some funding decisions arrived at the last moment, and changes to service provision forced the charity to draw on its own reserves to avoid turning people away. The surge in demand continued beyond the reporting period.
The new system replaced the voluntary funding model under which GamCare received support through GambleAware, the Gambling Commission and the government's voluntary levy. GambleAware ceased operations at the end of March 2026, handing functions to NHS England and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID). In England, GamCare retained the National Gambling Helpline and secured contracts covering East Midlands, London, South East and Yorkshire. OHID allocated over £4m to expand outreach programmes. In Wales, the helpline contract was not renewed and instead went to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which has been under special measures since 2023.
GamCare's current contracts with NHS England run for one year only, requiring a fresh tender by April 2027. That timeline coincides with government plans to abolish NHS England and transfer functions to Integrated Care Boards under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. GamCare called on authorities to conduct an early review of the system to address first-year errors.
Revenue for 2025/26 came to £19.9m, down from £20.3m the prior year. The charity reported a surplus of £5.1m, with reserves rising from £11m to £16m in response to funding uncertainty.
