GamCare has warned of rising gambling debts and money anxieties by British adults seeking help and support.
Its warning follows new data from subsidiary, the Money Guidance Service (MGS), which observes that gambling debts have surpassed over £5m since January, a figure that is almost double compared to the whole of 2024.
The MGS service was established by GamCare in 2022, to fill a gap in support for those impacted by gambling harms and their economic consequences.
As detailed to the media, MGS reports that 1,151 people have been referred into the service since January 2025, already surpassing the 923 referrals recorded across all of 2024.
On average, those accessing the service this year reported debts of £4,682 per person. In total, the figure stands at over £5.3m for the first eight months of 2025.
Concerns on Growing Demand of MGS services
The charity highlighted that demand for help has intensified over the summer, with referrals in June, July, and August more than doubling compared to the same months in 2024.
August 2025 also set a new record, with 198 people referred in a single month — the highest level since the service was launched.
GamCare notes that overall demand for financial help is accelerating sharply in 2025, driven both by higher levels of reported debt and by more people recognising the need for support.
The service flagged worrying trends, including individuals gambling with business funds, leading to debts in the millions, and others gambling in attempts to cover household bills, leaving them increasingly vulnerable to financial distress.
Kathy Wade, Money Guidance Service Manager, commented: “We often hear from people who struggle with gambling that it doesn’t feel like real money they are betting with. A lot of the people we see are young men who are looking for big financial wins either through gambling or even cryptocurrency investing, but it can lead to riskier behaviours around these activities.”
Second warning of 2025
This is the second warning GamCare has sounded on debt and financial harms this year, with the charity stressing the urgent need for data-driven responses to gambling-related debt. GamCare includes MGS data and insights in the development of its wider treatment and support programmes, including its management of the National Gambling Helpline.
The charity has further called for MGS findings to play a role in shaping the UK’s new statutory levy on problem gambling harms, which came into effect in April 2025. The levy, funded by all licensed B2C and B2B gambling operators, is overseen by the NHS, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Wade concluded: “It is especially difficult for people who look to gambling to make extra money for their daily household costs, which continue to feel squeezed by rising pressures. We know that many people gamble safely, but we would not encourage anyone to gamble with the goal of making extra money to cover their 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.”
