By
Dennis Kamprad

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Around 26% of people gamble worldwide. This means there are roughly 1.6 billion gamblers around the globe, with 4.2 billion gambling at least once every year. Latest statistics have revealed that over 10 million adults have sought help for problem gambling, making it a major international public health concern. Fortunately, many charitable organizations are now supporting people to help them overcome their gambling addictions. So we had to ask: What are the best charities helping to overcome gambling addiction?

The best charities that help overcome gambling addiction are the International Problem Gambling Center and GamCare. Charities such as the National Council on Problem Gambling and Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation raise awareness of the issues surrounding gambling and advocate for better support. 

Whether you want to help compulsive gamblers overcome their addiction, raise awareness about problem gambling, or partake in programs that help the families of gamblers, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities to overcome gambling addiction are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Help Overcome Gambling Addiction Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their mission, impact and transparency ratings, and achievements.

They operate all over the world, from North America to Asia, supporting people who are suffering from gambling addictions. 

Many of these organizations help people get over their addictions by giving them counseling and therapy. Others run support groups and peer-led programs to connect people with individuals who have been through similar experiences.

They also offer online resources and advocate for awareness about the issue of gambling addiction by working with policymakers and other stakeholders.

Yet they all share the same goal of overcoming gambling addiction.

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Help Overcome Gambling Addiction in 2024

Below are our favorite charities helping to overcome gambling addiction (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

International Problem Gambling Center: Solution and Safety

The International Problem Gambling Center has a score of 71% for Accountability and Transparency from Charity Navigator.

“To provide solutions and safety nets for problem gamblers and their families.”

International Problem Gambling Center

The International Problem Gambling Center educates patients with the latest scientific information available to help them better understand and treat their condition. Moreover, they utilize counseling programs to help patients accept accountability for their choices and to formulate plans to live their lives responsibly. Similarly, through behavioral therapy, they focus on altering the ideas and behaviors of their patients. In addition, they provide a program to help families remain emotionally, spiritually, and mentally healthy during treatment.

Since their founding, the International Problem Gambling Center has treated thousands of problem gamblers and has become the model for other treatment programs worldwide. Furthermore, with the help of their committed staff members, thousands more people have resolutely improved their lives through the charity’s Intensive Outpatient Program. In addition, the charity has committed to investing $200,000 into their gaming education, training, and awareness programs, alongside the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers and Gaming Laboratory International.

You can donate to the International Problem Gambling Center through their website. You can also offer your support by gifting to the charity.

GamCare: Gambling and Mental Health

According to their financial statement, GamCare spent 44.7% of their income on charitable activities and 54.8% on grants.

“To support those harmed by gambling through advice and treatment, and to minimize gambling-related harm through education and engagement work.”

GamCare

GamCare works to provide information, counseling, and support for young people to raise awareness of the dangers of gambling addiction and to provide a platform for open, honest discussions. They also organize a GamCare’s Women’s program to assist in the implementation of the National Strategy to reduce gambling harm in women. Furthermore, through their Criminal Justice Program, they provide resources, knowledge, training, and pathways to support people in the criminal justice system to reduce gambling-related harm and re-offending. In addition, GamCare provides a variety of services to companies to inform them of the value of customer protection and safer gambling practices. 

Since their founding, GamCare has educated over 28,000 individuals between the ages of 11 and 19 about the risks of gambling. Furthermore, they have trained over 7,000 professionals within the criminal justice system to support gambling addicts. Moreover, they partnered with Gamban and GAMSTOP to create TalkBanStop which ensures the distribution of over 9,500 free Gamban licenses to provide support and tools to help people control their gambling habits. In addition, they have trained over 15,000 adults and delivered awareness to over 28,000 young people about the risks of gambling excessively.

You can donate directly to GamCare through their website. You can also contribute by joining their peer support service.

BeGambleAware: Safe From Gambling Harm

According to their financial statement, BeGambleAware spent 50.5% of their expenditure on care and treatment, 37.8% on education, and 11.6% on research.

“To keep people safe from gambling harms.”

BeGambleAware

BeGambleAware offers a confidential helpline to assist people suffering from gambling addiction. They also provide online assistance and resources, such as an interactive self-assessment tool. Furthermore, the charity offers treatment and support services, as well as information on local services and support groups. Moreover, BeGambleAware conducts research and provides education and toolkits on responsible gambling and gambling addiction.

Since their founding, BeGambleAware has established itself as the most widely recognized name in the British gambling harms space, both among the public and medical professionals. Every year, over five million people visit their website for support. In addition, in 2022 they launched the first-ever gambling harm awareness campaign directed specifically at women which reached over 54% of their target audience. Furthermore, 49% of those who saw the campaign took some form of action as a result. In addition, the charity trained over 8,600 professionals and screened 35,000 people through their Citizens Advice Network program. 

You can donate directly to BeGambleAware through their website. You can also contribute by supporting their campaigns and initiatives, such as their annual Responsible Gambling Week.

Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation: Exposing the Truth on Gambling

The Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation has a Gold seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“To reveal the truth behind commercialized gambling operators to prevent more victims.”

Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation

The Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation works to expose the truth about commercialized gambling businesses to national, state, and local media to prevent a rise in gambling addicts. Moreover, they create fact sheets, webinars, and other instrumental materials about the serious consequences of commercialized gambling products. Further, through their Stop Predatory Gambling and Gambling-Free Kids websites, they inform the public about the realities of commercialized gambling.

Today, the Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation has grown to include members in all 50 states, dedicated to addressing harmful marketing practices used by gambling companies and stopping predatory gambling. For example, in 2022 alone, they provided information and background research on the issue of predatory gambling to over 110 national, regional, and international journalists. Since 2010, they have utilized the work of their 1600 citizen leaders to reach 1030 journalists and raise awareness of the issues surrounding gambling marketing and endorsements. 

You can donate to the Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation through their website. You can also support the charity by signing an American Declaration on Government & Gambling.

National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG): Stability in Gambling

The National Council on Problem Gambling has a silver seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“To lead state and national stakeholders in the development of policy and programs for all those affected by problem gambling.”

National Council on Problem Gambling

The National Council on Problem Gambling advocates for initiatives and services to help individuals and families impacted by problem gambling. Furthermore, through their Problem Gambling Awareness Campaign, they raise awareness among the general public about problem gambling. For example, they create awareness among the public about the risks associated with lottery purchases for kids. In addition, they educate people about the dangers of youth gambling through their Gift Responsibly Campaign.

Since their founding, the National Council on Problem Gambling has received over 1 million calls, providing confidential and toll-free support for individuals seeking help with gambling addiction. Moreover, they have been able to mobilize 63 lotteries and 53 non-lottery organizations worldwide to participate in their Gift Responsibly Campaign. 

You can donate to the National Council on Problem Gambling directly through their website.

Delaware Council on Gambling Problems (DCGP): Addiction Treatment Center

Delaware Council on Gambling Problems has a score of 93% for Accountability and Transparency from Charity Navigator. 

“To raise public awareness that problem gambling disorders are treatable and to facilitate the development of a network of services for problem gamblers and their families.”

Delaware Council on Gambling Problems

The Delaware Council on Gambling Problems helps families of people who have gambling problems by giving them free and private treatment. Also, their prevention services offer presentations for teens and young adults in Delaware in small groups and large groups. In addition, they offer expert training on problem gambling throughout the year. Similarly, they bring in national and international trainers to spark interest, conversation, and skill development across a wide range of topics.

Since their founding, the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems has been able to examine more than 5,000 Delaware residents for signs of gambling addiction. Through this research, they discovered that more than 60% of Delaware substance abusers are affected by gambling, highlighting the critical need for targeted interventions and support services. This accomplishment demonstrates the organization’s commitment to promoting responsible gambling practices and improving the lives of those impacted by problem gambling.

You can donate to the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems through their website. You can also support the cause by joining their professional training program to become a trained counselor.

New Mexico Council on Problem Gambling: The Path to Recovery

The New Mexico Council on Problem Gambling has a score of 100% for Accountability and Transparency from Charity Navigator.

“To increase public awareness about compulsive gambling in a culturally sensitive manner; providing treatment and prevention services at no cost for problem gamblers, their families, and vulnerable youth.”

New Mexico Council on Problem Gambling

The New Mexico Council on Problem Gambling works with educational institutions to facilitate programs that will attract future therapists and counselors to provide problem gambling treatment and prevention services. Moreover, they help responsible gambling advocates with their print, web, and television marketing campaigns dedicated to problem gambling. Further, they raise awareness of the symptoms of gambling disorders and promote early intervention. They also offer the New Mexico State Specialty Certification in Problem Gambling (SCPG) for medical professionals who treat gambling problems.

Since their founding, the New Mexico Council on Problem Gambling, have assisted 128 problem gamblers in receiving efficient treatment for their gambling issues through their Indigent Care Treatment Fund. The charity has also been able to work closely with 37 affiliate chapters all over the US. Moreover, in 2009, the charity partnered with organizations such as the Governor’s Task Force on Compulsive Gambling to develop the New Mexico Strategic Prevention and Treatment Approach to Compulsive Gambling Plan, which helped to establish gambling standards such as budgeting, standardization for employee training, and data collection. 

You can donate directly to the New Mexico Council on Problem Gambling through the GreatNonprofits website.

Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM): Safer Gaming and Gambling

According to their financial statement, the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust spent 84.8% of their income on charitable activities.

“To ensure that all young and vulnerable people are safe from gaming and gambling related harms.”

Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust

The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust offers free training and materials to educators, youth workers, religious leaders, and healthcare professionals on gaming and gambling harms. Moreover, they educate foster carers about gaming and gambling, and how to recognize danger indications. Further, the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust offers high-quality online training to improve player protection laws and efficiently protect customers. In addition, they also carry out a Free Gambling Support University tour to advise students about the harmful effects of gambling.

Since their founding, the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust has won two national honors for their vital work protecting young people. Further, in partnership with GamCare, the charity has trained more than 24,000 experts who work with or have authority over youth. Similarly, the initiative has directly offered training on gambling damage awareness to more than 48,000 young people. Additionally, it was determined that 98% of the youth they reached felt more able to make the right choices as a result of the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust sessions.

You can donate directly to the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust through their website. You can also support them by setting up a Facebook fundraiser to inspire others to give to the cause.

Gordon Moody: Tackling Gambling Addiction Together

According to their financial statement, Gordon Moody spent 75.49% of their total income on charitable activities and 1.67% on governance costs. 

“To provide advice, education, and high quality and innovative therapeutic support to problem gamblers and those affected by problem gambling, through residential, online, and outreach services.”

Gordon Moody

Gordon Moody operates a male and female residential treatment center for people suffering from gambling addiction, offering group and individual therapy as well as a supportive and structured environment for people to recover. Further, the charity offers online support through the online gambling therapy program and self-help resources such as the self-assessment quiz.

Since their founding, Gordon Moody has become the UK’s leading charity for treating gambling addiction. They also pioneered the world’s first residential gambling addiction center for women. By 2022, the charity had expanded its reach, taking on 125 more people, with a 78% completion rate.

You can donate directly to Gordon Moody through their website. You can also support the charity by fundraising for them.

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities helping to overcome gambling addiction. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

• Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarise yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
• Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
• Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
• Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
• Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
• Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

• Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
• Buy their official merchandise. These charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
• Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
• Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
• Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to helping to overcome gambling addiction – based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

Sources

• Casino.org: Global Gambling Industry in Recent Years
• Addiction Journal: Over 10 Million Adults Have Sought Help For Problem Gambling
• Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation: Homepage
• International Problem Gambling Center: Homepage
• Charity Navigator: International Problem Gambling Center
• International Problem Gambling Center: Treatment Plans and Cost
• International Problem Gambling Center: About
• International Problem Gambling Center: Hunter International Problem Gambling Center
• International Problem Gambling Center: Donate
• International Problem Gambling Center: Support Us
• GamCare: Homepage
• GamCare: Youth Outreach Program
• GamCare: Women’s Program
• GamCare: Working with Criminal Justice System
• GamCare: Outreach and Training for Gambling Businesses
• GamCare: Gamcares Annual Report
• GamCare: Donate
• GamCare: Peer supporter
• BeGambleAware: Homepage
• Charities Commission: BeGambleAware
• BeGambleAware: The National Gambling Treatment Service
• BeGambleAware: Do I have a Gambling Problem?
• BeGambleAware: Annual GB Treatment & Support Survey
• BeGambleAware: Finding the Right Support
• BeGambleAware: Publications and Researches
• BeGambleAware: Toolkits and Resources
• BeGambleAware: 2022 Annual Report
• BeGambleAware: Donate
• BeGambleAware: GambleAware and Responsible Gambling Week
• Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation: Homepage 
• GuideStar: Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation
• Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation: How We Work
• Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation: Donate
• Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation: Support by signing
• National Council on Problem Gambling: Homepage
• GuideStar: National Council on Problem Gambling
• National Council on Problem Gambling: Programs on Advocacy
• National Council on Problem Gambling: Awareness Campaign Program
• National Council on Problem Gambling: Gift Responsibly Campaign
• National Council on Problem Gambling: Grant
• National Council on Problem Gambling: Work to raise awareness about gambling risk on youth
• National Council on Problem Gambling: Donate
• National Council on Problem Gambling: Support Us
• Delaware Council on Gambling Problems: Homepage
• Charity Navigator: Delaware Council on Gambling Problems
• Delaware Council on Gambling Problems: Help Family and Friends
• Delaware Council on Gambling Problems: About Us
• Delaware Council on Gambling Problems: Professional Training
• Delaware Council on Gambling Problems: Delaware Residents
• Delaware Council on Gambling Problems: Donate
• New Mexico Council on Problem Gambler: Homepage
• Charity Navigator: New Mexico Council on Problem Gambler
• New Mexico Council on Problem Gambler: Public Awareness
• New Mexico Council on Problem Gambler: Find help
• New Mexico Council on Problem Gambler: Donate
• New Mexico Council on Problem Gambler: Advocacy Program
• Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust: Homepage
• Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust: Two National Awards
• Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust: Financial Statement
• Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust: Book a Workshop
• Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust: Foster Carers
• Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust: Safe Gambling Training
• Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust: Free Gambling Support University Tour
• Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust: Partnership Education Program
• Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust: About-Impact
• Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust: Donate
• Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust: Support Us
• Gordon Moody: Homepage
• Charities Commission: Gordon Moody
• Gordon Moody: Male Residential Treatment Centres
• Gordon Moody: Female Residential Treatment Centre
• Gordon Moody: Gambling Therapy
• Gordon Moody: Self-Assessment
• Gordon Moody: World’s First Residential Gambling Addiction Treatment Centre for Women to Open in 2021
• Gordon Moody: Donate
• Gordon Moody: Fundraise For Us