GamCare announced the expansion of free treatment for problem gambling in Scotland's Highlands and Islands, including Shetland and Orkney, with online and telephone care.
The Scottish government will fund the program for three years, until March 2029, with resources from the allocation of the UK statutory levy on gambling harms (Levy on Gambling Harms). The new tax structure allocates 30% of resources to prevention. GamCare will also continue to operate the National Gambling Helpline in Scotland.
Treatment and research
Trained professionals will provide free online and telephone care, using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, which help identify and modify patterns associated with harmful behaviors. The expansion serves communities with limited access to specialized services.
YouGov research, commissioned by the initiative, surveyed more than 3,700 adults in the UK. Among respondents in Scotland who had gambled in the past year, 8% said that at some point they felt they might have a problem with gambling.
Lorraine Hannah, outreach and engagement professional at GamCare, said: “It is very encouraging to bring GamCare’s support to these communities, many of which may not know that dedicated services for gambling harms are available to those facing difficulties.”
