GamCare’s safer gambling standard ending this year

By Charlie Dear

GamCare’s safer gambling operation will cease to exist by the end of the year.

The safer gambling standard is described on its website as an 'independent quality standard, accredited by UKAS, that assesses the measures gambling businesses have put in place to protect people from experiencing gambling-related harm.'

Launched by GamCare in 2019, the standard was run for years before the company’s board decided to restructure how it would work under a different guise; in December 2023.

A strategic review was put in place as it looked for a long-term solution for its safer gambling services. However, after a root and branch review, those services will now come to a close by the end of 2024, with no new safer gambling services provided to the industry from 2025 onwards.

In a statement on its website, GamCare emphasised that it will continue to provide support to those who are struggling with gambling and those affected by someone else’s gambling.

The website states: “Our core focus at GamCare will continue to be the provision of high-quality, accessible support to the thousands of people who come through our services each year, both those who are struggling with gambling directly as well as those who are affected by someone else’s gambling. 

“All of GamCare’s work is focused on the reduction of gambling harms, as it has been for 27 years.”

Nevertheless, the organisation did note that while it will no longer provide safer gambling services to the industry, it 'remains committed to reducing gambling harm' and other services, including the National Gambling Helpline, will be affected by the change.