More than 110K people get help from the National Gambling Support Network

• Newly released report by GambleAware acknowledges the vital support the National Gambling Support Network provides
• Launched two years ago, the Network has reached more than 110,000 people
• During the second year, the Network recorded a solid increase in the number of brief interventions, which soared by 93%

The leading independent charity, GambleAware, released a new report, highlighting how many people have been supported by The National Gambling Support Network (NGSN), a network that is free, non-judgmental and provides confidential treatment advice and support for a range of gambling-related issues.

The new data highlights the support the Network has provided since its launch back in 2023, revealing a notable increase in self-referrals.

Thousands of people benefit from vital support thanks to the National Gambling Support Network

Notably, since April 2023, when the NGSN was introduced, it has provided vital support for more than 110,000 people.

This, GambleAware explained, is based on the "number of individuals who accessed services including the National Gambling Helpline, regional providers, primary care and residential services."

Anna Hargrave, GambleAware's Deputy Chief Executive, commented: "The second year of the National Gambling Support Network presented an opportunity to take the learnings from year one and focus on how we can best support those affected by gambling harms."

Moreover, she pointed out: "We’ve seen an increase in the number of people being supported and, importantly, an increase in brief interventions and self-referrals, which means we can support people earlier and reduce the potential for further harm."

Hargrave spoke about the expertise of the NGSN, which is crucial in helping people affected by gambling harm across the country.

Finally, she said: "We look forward to working with the future commissioners and the NGSN with the integration of the network into the future system to ensure providers can continue offering their crucial services."

Brief interventions increase

Per the new data, brief interventions, an activity that revolves around short discussions that aim to address potential gambling-related issues, recorded significant growth in the second year of the Network's operation.

While during the first year, 11,000 accessed brief interventions, during the second year, their number nearly doubled by 93% to more than 21,000.

The recently released report acknowledged the importance of person-centered support, which enables individuals to access the service that specifically matches their needs depending on their circumstances.

The waiting time for a first assessment, based on the new report, is an average of two days.

"Through increases in outreach and engagement activity and improvements to tools such as the GambleAware service finder to enhance awareness of support available amongst frontline professionals and the public, individuals are more likely to engage with local support services directly," reads the newly released report.

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