Former gambling addicts are making an emotional appeal to the government, warning that the current funding crisis in treatment services could trigger a dangerous spike in mental health crises and suicides. The unexpected gap, caused by slow state distribution of the new mandatory levy funds, threatens to cut off life-saving support to hundreds of vulnerable people.
For many years, the funding for addiction services relied on voluntary contributions from the industry. The switch to a compulsory levy was celebrated as a move toward greater security, promising more resources. However, the bureaucratic failure to distribute the collected levy money promptly has created an emergency situation where providers are unable to cover basic operating costs.
The new commissioning role assigned to the NHS is a key point of failure. Charities like GamCare and Gordon Moody report extreme confusion and delays from the health service, which is failing to provide clear contractual pathways. This ambiguity is creating an untenable operating environment, particularly for smaller charities that cannot function without stable, commissioned income.
The anxiety on the front lines is immense, with staff seeing heightened distress among clients who fear losing their support network. Recovered individuals, many of whom narrowly escaped self-harm during their addiction, emphasize that service continuity is non-negotiable for those navigating recovery, and any disruption is highly dangerous.
Charities are collectively calling for the government to step in immediately with a financial injection to stabilize the sector while the NHS irons out the commissioning wrinkles. They argue that preventing a human tragedy must be the government’s absolute top priority. The government has acknowledged the severity of the situation but has not yet confirmed the approval of the requested emergency funds.