Kris Johnson Deputy Editor -- CasinoBeats.com
Kris Johnson is a Charlotte-based deputy editor. He joined CasinoBeats in July 2025 and oversees the daily news flow of editing and publishing. Kris also reports on all aspects of the gambling industry with a...
Read Full BioUK gambling support charity GamCare reports that gambling debts have soared to more than £5m since January, with the “number of people seeking financial guidance since the start of 2025 already higher” than all of last year.
GamCare, the founder of the National Gambling Helpline, noted that this year’s gambling debts to date have nearly doubled all of 2024. Summer has been busy with the number of participant registrations doubling year-on-year in June, July, and August. Additionally, August marked the highest number of referrals (198) for any month on record.
Referrals Surge for Gambling-Related Financial Problems
The numbers are staggering, with 1,151 people having been referred into GamCare’s Money Guidance Service since January. That’s compared to 923 for the entire year in 2024. The collective debt totals are even more eye-popping:
- 2025 to date: £5.3m
- 2024: £2.8 million
GamCare noted that it is “particularly concerned about incidents where people are using business funds to gamble and incurring high levels of debt, reaching millions of pounds in some cases.” There is also concern for “people struggling financially who are looking to cover essential bills through gambling winnings.”
Money Guidance Service Manager Kathy Wade commented: “We often hear from people who struggle with gambling that it doesn’t feel like real money they are betting with. Many of the people we encounter are young men seeking substantial financial gains through gambling or cryptocurrency investing. Still, it can lead to riskier behaviours around these activities.”
She added: “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.”
Since 2024, GamCare says it has “helped people identify over £60,000 in unclaimed benefits as opportunities to help improve” their financial situations.
Individuals suffering from gambling-related harm are encouraged to call GamCare’s National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133). The 24/7, 365-day-a-year helpline provides free and confidential support for gambling harms.
