The charity made 996 referrals during the month, up from 674 in January 2025 – a 48% year-on-year increase.
Excluding referrals to peer-based support services such as the Money Guidance Service and Way Forward, treatment referrals rose to 742, compared with 603 in the same month last year.
January 2026 was one of the highest referral months that GamCare has recorded in the past five years, with only October 2025 (1,165 referrals), September 2025 (1,022) and August 2025 (1,077) exceeding the figure.
“More people affected by gambling harms are choosing to start treatment,” said Victoria Corbishley, CEO of GamCare.
“The National Gambling Helpline is a 24/7, confidential route to support, and our advisers rapidly connect people with free, specialist help across Great Britain. That first conv..