For Gambling Businesses

Safer Gambling Function

GamCare’s Commitment to Safer Gambling

GamCare has long been at the forefront of efforts to reduce gambling-related harm. Along with our flagship helpline and treatment services, GamCare has spent many years providing a suite of products and services to the UK gambling industry to help protect customers and promote safer gambling practices.

Our Mission

GamCare exists to support those affected by gambling harms through advice, treatment, education, and engagement. Our Safer Gambling function was a part of this mission, enabling us to reach more individuals experiencing harm and ensuring they were directed to the support they needed.

Working with the Gambling Industry

Gambling operators have a role to play in identifying and mitigating harm among their customers. Regulatory requirements oblige them to act when harm is detected, and GamCare worked to empower operators to fulfil this responsibility effectively. Through training, GamCare helped industry staff understand gambling-related harms, recognise the signs, and signpost those affected to appropriate support.

Pioneering Safer Practices

In addition to training, since 2001, GamCare developed standards to promote safer gambling practices:

• GamCare Certification (2001-2018): A groundbreaking initiative that set the foundation for safer gambling practices in the industry through the GamCare “Code of Practice”.
• Safer Gambling Standard (2019-2024): Building on this foundation, the Safer Gambling Standard (SGS) introduced a stepped accreditation model that challenged operators to exceed regulatory requirements with respect to player protection policy and practices.

Closing the Safer Gambling Function

In 2023, GamCare determined it was time to transition its Safer Gambling Standard and Training products to a new home. Despite extensive efforts to rehome these programmes, a suitable one could not be found, leading to the closure of GamCare’s Safer Gambling function in December 2024.

During its operation, GamCare’s Safer Gambling products achieved the following milestones:

• The SGS was developed and launched in 2019, the first version was supported by BSI and received accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) in 2023 until the scheme ended in December 2024.
• The SGS was achieved by 56 gambling operators, demonstrating their commitment to safer gambling practices in doing so, and
• Between 2019-2024, GamCare trained over 8,300 delegates across 80 gambling operators and associated sectors, equipping them with the knowledge to address gambling harms.

Resources and Legacy

As the SGS is no longer active, GamCare has ceased all quality assurance and governance processes related to the Standard. With the closure of the scheme and all associated governance processes, GamCare will no longer publish a list of certified operators.

Though the Safer Gambling Standard is no longer operational, its impact on industry practices remains significant. GamCare encourages others in the sector to adopt and build upon these frameworks.

Questions about SGS operations or certifications can be directed to [email protected].

Moving Forward

While GamCare no longer delivers Safer Gambling activities, its commitment to safer gambling remains steadfast. We continue to believe in the importance of industry-wide adoption of robust player protection measures and encourage innovation in reducing gambling-related harm.