Wales will launch its first NHS-run specialist gambling treatment service and dedicated helpline on 1 April, funded through the UK’s statutory gambling levy.
The Wales Gambling Helpline will provide information, advice and support to anyone affected by gambling-related harm, including family members. Callers requiring clinical intervention will be referred directly into treatment services, which will be available through a secure online platform to support remote access.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has been awarded £1.3m annually by the Welsh Government to operate both the helpline and the treatment service. The health board already runs national helplines including DAN 24/7 for drugs and alcohol and CALL for mental health, providing established bilingual infrastructure in English and Welsh.
“This is a landmark moment marking the first time specialist gambling treatment and support services will be available from the NHS in Wales. The helpline will be a form of open access support available to people who need it the most and fits into the ambitions of our Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Guided by the evidence, we’re confident this approach is the most effective way to deliver essential support for both prevention and treatment.”
Sarah Murphy, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Welsh Government
Levy Funding and Governance Structure
The funding comes from the UK-wide statutory gambling levy, which came into effect in April 2025 and raised approximately £120m in its first year. The levy replaced the previous voluntary industry contributions to research, education and treatment bodies, and is designed to keep harm-reduction funding independent of the gambling industry.
Within Wales, the Welsh Government appointed Public Health Wales as lead prevention coordinator and NHS Wales Performance and Improvement as lead treatment coordinator. Public Health Wales will launch a dedicated prevention grant scheme in April, with NHS Wales Performance and Improvement working with regional health boards to bring voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations into the treatment pathway.
The governance split reflects the broader structure adopted across Great Britain, where 50% of levy proceeds flow to NHS England and the devolved Scottish and Welsh governments for treatment commissioning, with the remainder directed toward research and prevention.
Clinical Scope and Anticipated Demand
Dr Faye Graver, clinical lead for gambling treatment services at Betsi Cadwaladr, confirmed the service will cover referral and triage through to aftercare. It targets not just those experiencing gambling addiction directly, but also affected family members and wider support networks.
“We are establishing a specialist gambling treatment service and the Wales Gambling Helpline to provide much-needed support for people struggling with gambling addiction. They will provide the necessary support, advice and information not only to people experiencing gambling-related harms, but also their family members and others affected. Research shows tens of thousands of people in Wales need support for gambling related harms and this treatment service will provide this from referral and triage through to aftercare.”
Dr Faye Graver, Clinical Lead for Gambling Treatment Services, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Estimates cited by the Welsh Government indicate that between 80,000 and 113,000 people in Wales are affected by problem gambling, a population that has had no dedicated NHS pathway until now.
Industry Context
The Wales launch sits within a broader shift in how the UK frames gambling harm governance. The statutory levy marked a structural break from the voluntary funding model that had channelled industry contributions through bodies such as GamCare and GambleAware. GamCare, which previously operated the National Gambling Helpline for England and Wales, acknowledged the transition in a statement from CEO Victoria Corbishley, noting it would be writing to Minister Murphy about coordination between the new Wales service and existing helplines to avoid confusion for those seeking help.
The UK’s confirmed gambling tax increases, with online casino rates rising to 40% and sports betting to 25%, add further pressure on operators already navigating a tightening compliance environment in Britain. The levy-funded treatment expansion is a direct consequence of that regulatory reset, and Wales becoming the last of Britain’s three nations to establish a dedicated NHS treatment pathway signals that the infrastructure build-out under the new system is now complete. How effectively Public Health Wales and the health boards integrate voluntary sector capacity into the treatment pathway will be the first real test of whether the levy model delivers on its stated aims.
Source: Welsh Government
