Wales will introduce its first dedicated NHS gambling treatment service and national helpline from 1 April, marking the first time specialist gambling support will be available through the Welsh health system.
The Wales Gambling Helpline will provide information, advice and support to individuals experiencing gambling-related harms, as well as family members and others affected. Where appropriate, callers will be referred to structured treatment services.
Specialist treatment will be delivered through a secure online platform, enabling remote access to clinical support across the country.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has been awarded £1.3m ($1.7m) per year by the Welsh Government to operate both the helpline and treatment pathway.
The funding is derived from the UK-wide statutory gambling levy, introduced in April 2025, which raised approximately £120m in its first year for research, prevention and treatment across Great Britain.
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.”
Murphy added: “The helpline will be a form of open access support available to people who need it the most.”
Clinical Lead for Gambling Treatment Services at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Dr Faye Graver said: “We are establishing a specialist gambling treatment service and the Wales Gambling Helpline to provide much-needed support for people struggling with gambling addiction.”
Graver added: “Research shows tens of thousands of people in Wales need support for gambling-related harms.”
The Health Board already operates national services including the DAN 24/7 drug and alcohol helpline and the CALL mental health helpline, providing existing bilingual infrastructure for the new service.
To support implementation of the levy in Wales, Public Health Wales has been appointed lead prevention co-ordinator, while NHS Wales Performance and Improvement will oversee treatment expansion. A prevention grant scheme is expected to launch in April.
In January 2026, an Argentinian federal court ordered full insurance coverage for gambling addiction treatment, ruling that clinical recommendations must take precedence over provider network restrictions under national mental health law.
The statutory gambling levy is intended to ensure harm prevention and treatment funding is independent of direct industry control
