What is GamCare?

GamCare is a UK registered charity, founded in 1997, that provides free, confidential support, counselling, and treatment for anyone affected by gambling harm, and it operates the National Gambling Helpline. It is one of the longest-established gambling-support organisations in Great Britain and is largely funded through GambleAware, drawing on the regulatory-settlement and voluntary contributions the gambling industry pays. GamCare sits at the centre of the National Gambling Support Network, referring people into structured treatment across England, Scotland, and Wales. The National Gambling Helpline runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year, on 0808 8020 133, with live chat and WhatsApp options, and it is open to gamblers themselves as well as affected family members and friends. Beyond the helpline, GamCare offers one-to-one and group counselling, self-help resources, and moderated peer forums, and it co-runs the TalkBanStop partnership alongside the blocking tool Gamban and the self-exclusion scheme GAMSTOP. Worked example: imagine a player who has lost £4,000 over six months chasing a losing streak and staking around £150 a week. Contacting the helpline costs nothing, and roughly 95% of callers say they would recommend it. A single free counselling pathway can help them set a deposit limit, register for self-exclusion, and stop the losses before they compound further. For affiliates, GamCare is a signal of genuine responsible-gambling compliance: reputable UKGC-licensed operators display its helpline number and link to its resources. Featuring GamCare details prominently strengthens player protection and trust. Compare with responsible-gambling, GAMSTOP, Gamban, and self-exclusion.