The National Gambling Clinic (NGC)

The National Gambling Clinic is a free, confidential NHS service for anyone experiencing harm from gambling – including veterans, serving personnel, reservists and their families.

The clinic supports:

• Young people aged 13–18 from anywhere in England
• Adults aged 18+ living in London and the South East
• Family members, partners and friends affected by someone else’s gambling

You don’t need to be in crisis to get help, and you don’t have to do this alone.

What support is available?

The team includes psychologists, therapists, nurses, psychiatrists and peer support workers with lived experience of gambling harm. Depending on your needs, they can offer:

• One-to-one sessions with a clinician
• Group sessions (currently mostly online)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other talking therapies
• Relapse-prevention support and tools to help you stop or reduce gambling
• Optional post-treatment support groups
• Support for partners, family and friends
• Psychiatric review and medication if needed

Support is offered online (phone/Zoom) and face-to-face in London, so you can access help in a way that fits your life and circumstances.

Who is it for?

This service is for anyone who:

• Is worried about their own gambling, or
• Is being impacted by a loved one’s gambling

It’s especially relevant if you:

• Feel gambling is affecting your mental health, relationships, work or finances
• Are in (or leaving) the Armed Forces and turning to gambling as a coping mechanism
• Are a partner, parent, or family member feeling the impact of someone else’s gambling

The clinic is part of CNWL NHS Foundation Trust, which has extensive experience providing addictions and psychological treatment. They also provide resources and support tailored to the Armed Forces community.

How it works

• Self-refer online or by phone/email – you’ll complete a short referral form or speak to the team.
• Assessment – the team will talk with you about your situation and what you’d like to change.
• Personalised treatment plan – you’ll agree a plan together, which may include one-to-one, group work, or family support.

How to access this support

Click “Go to website” to:

• Complete a self-referral form to the National Gambling Clinic, or
• Find more information for you and your family

You can also ask your GP or another professional (for example a mental health worker, welfare officer or charity caseworker) to refer you.
If you’re part of the Armed Forces community and gambling is starting to take over your thoughts, time or money, this is a safe, confidential place to get structured NHS support to change things.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and community services across Brent, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster and more.