Highlighting Significant Impact on Gambling Harm Awareness Across the UK Military Community
An independent evaluation of GamCare’s Armed Forces Development Project has been released, highlighting the initiative’s substantial contribution to increasing awareness and understanding of gambling harms across the UK Armed Forces community. Funded by the Gambling Commission from April 2024 to March 2026, the project was created to address gambling harms affecting serving personnel, veterans, and their families. Research conducted by Swansea University in 2021 indicated that Armed Forces veterans are ten times more likely to be at risk compared to the general population, underscoring the need for tailored support.
Throughout the program, the project delivered training sessions to more than 2,000 Armed Forces personnel, attended over 40 health and wellbeing events, and engaged thousands more through targeted digital materials and stakeholder collaboration. The evaluation, carried out by Cloud Chamber, revealed that 88% of training attendees believed the sessions would benefit themselves or others in the military, while over 90% of welfare professionals found the training helpful and relevant to their roles. The project officially winds down on July 31, 2026.
Executive and Participant Perspectives
Shelley Johnson, Programme Manager at GamCare, stated:
“As we approach the end of the programme we would like to thank the many individuals who have contributed. This evaluation highlights the progress that has been made in further understanding gambling harms within the Armed Forces and providing practical steps that people serving can take if they are struggling.”
A British Army attendee who participated in one of the training sessions added:
“I didn’t realise it was such a big issue. The stats, specifically about the Forces, were striking. It’s not really recognised in our policy in the same way that mental health is, particularly given how big an impact it [gambling] is now and the knock-on effect on the people around them.”
Despite the conclusion of the project, GamCare remains committed to sustaining support and ensuring that the Armed Forces community retains access to essential information and guidance regarding gambling harms.
