To cope with record demand in gambling addiction referrals, NHS England has announced it is to open seven new gambling clinics this summer, taking the total number to 15.

Last year saw around 1,400 people referred for help with gambling issues, almost a third up on the previous year. The new treatment centres will be in Blackpool, Bristol, Derby, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Thurrock, and offer CBT, family therapy and aftercare. This will bring capacity across all 15 clinics to 3,000 people a year.

The Gambling Commission estimates the number of problem gamblers is around 140,000, with the government’s recent gambling white paper criticised by campaigners for failing to include meaningful measures to tackle advertising and marketing.

NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard said:

"In 1948 when the NHS was founded, you had to go to a bookies to place a bet, but now people can gamble on their phone at the touch of a button and everyone, young and old, is bombarded with adverts encouraging them to take part. Record numbers of people are coming to the NHS for help to treat their gambling addiction, a cruel disease which has the power to destroy people’s lives, with referrals up by more than a third compared to last year."

Public Health Minister Neil O’Brien said:

"We have taken firm action to tackle gambling-related harms through our white paper, which includes our commitment to introduce a statutory levy so gambling companies pay their fair share towards the costs of treatment services."