February 25, 2026 - 153 views
A new NHS specialist gambling treatment service and national helpline will launch in Wales at the start of April — a move described by ministers as a “landmark moment” in tackling gambling-related harm.
The Wales Gambling Helpline will offer free information, advice and support to anyone affected by gambling — including family members — and will refer people on to specialist treatment where needed. Support will also be delivered remotely through a secure online platform.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has been awarded £1.3 million a year by the Welsh Government to run both the helpline and treatment service.
The funding comes from the new UK-wide statutory gambling levy, introduced in April 2025, which raised around £120 million in its first year for research, prevention and treatment across Great Britain.
Research suggests tens of thousands of people in Wales are experiencing gambling-related harm, either directly or through a family member’s behaviour. UK-wide data from the Gambling Commission has previously indicated that around 0.3–0.5% of adults may meet the criteria for problem gambling, with a much larger group considered at moderate or low risk — meaning the wider impact can stretch into many households.
In North Wales, concerns have mirrored national trends. Coastal towns including Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno have long had visible concentrations of betting shops and amusement arcades, while online gambling — now the fastest-growing form of betting — has expanded rapidly across all age groups.
Public health experts have also pointed to links between gambling harm, debt, mental health difficulties and substance misuse — services already under pressure in the region.
The new service will be run from North Wales by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which already operates national helplines including DAN 24/7 for drug and alcohol support and the CALL mental health helpline. The existing bilingual infrastructure is expected to allow the gambling service to operate in both Welsh and English from day one.
Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy said:
“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.”
Dr Faye Graver, Clinical Lead for Gambling Treatment Services at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said the service would provide support “from referral and triage through to aftercare”.
Alongside treatment services, Public Health Wales has been appointed as the lead prevention co-ordinator for Wales and will launch a grant scheme in April aimed at strengthening community-based prevention work.
NHS Wales Performance and Improvement will oversee treatment pathways nationally and work with health boards and voluntary organisations to expand support options.
Ministers say the new levy-funded approach ensures services are sustainably financed and independent of the gambling industry — a key concern raised by campaigners in recent years.
With gambling now accessible 24 hours a day via smartphones, health leaders say the launch of a dedicated NHS service is a significant step in addressing a problem that often remains hidden — but can have devastating consequences for individuals and families across North Wales and beyond.
