gambling/help/gamfam: Difference between revisions

GamFam
Category	Support community
Founded	October 11, 2019
Address	Suffolk, UK
Official website	https://gamfam.org.uk
Help and Support
Help & Support settings	Online, One-to-one, Group session
Helpline hours	Responds within 24 hours (no 24/7 helpline)
Helpline number	07932077585
Email	[email protected]
Social Media
Instagram	Visit
Facebook	Visit
X (Twitter)	Visit
Last Updated	20.03.2026

← Older edit

Latest revision as of 15:05, 20 March 2026

GamFam is a UK-registered charity (No. 1191139) that supports individuals experiencing gambling-related harms, as well as their affected family and friends.^[1]

What is GamFan

GamFam is an independent charity established by individuals with lived experience of gambling addiction. Founded in 2019, the organization provides a safe space and structured programs to help people recover from the devastating effects of gambling, serving both direct victims of gambling disorders and their support networks.

Its core offering is the GRA5P (GamFam Recovery and Support Programme) - a structured 5-stage self-help peer support programme, originally designed to support those affected by someone else's gambling, later expanded to support those directly in recovery.^[2]

Meetings are hosted by trained GamFam facilitators and usually have between 6 to 10 members, with the option of 1-to-1 peer support if required. All meetings run remotely via Zoom.

Role in the industry

GamFam operates within the addiction recovery and education sector. Its primary role is providing lived-experience peer support and raising public awareness about the early warning signs of gambling disorders. The charity also focuses on early intervention by educating school communities about the risks of transitioning from online gaming to gambling.

History and Reach

Steve Watts founded the charity in 2019 after his son's gaming addiction escalated into a compulsive gambling disorder. GamFam officially registered with the UK Charity Commission in November 2020. Because all peer support meetings are hosted remotely via Zoom, the charity operates without geographical barriers, supporting individuals across the UK and internationally.^[3]

Support Options

GamFam provides support through several structured avenues:

Support Option	Description
GRA5P	The GamFam Recovery and Support Programme is a 5-stage self-help peer support program^[4]
Group Meetings	Remote Zoom meetings hosted by trained facilitators, typically consisting of 6 to 10 members
1-to-1 Support	Individual peer support options for those requiring specialized attention
School Programs	Tailored educational sessions delivered in schools to warn about online gaming and gambling^[5]

GamLearn alternatives

Community	Country	Help for Problem Gambling
Gam-Anon	Global	Find a meeting
Gamblers Anonymous (GA)	Global	Find a meeting
SMART Recovery	Global	Find a meeting
GambleAware	UK	Find local support
GamCare	UK	Find local support
Evive	UK	Find support
GamLEARN	UK	Get justice support
Gambling with Lives	UK	Get help
Betknowmore (BKM)	UK	Get help
Adferiad Recovery	UK	Get help
Gordon Moody Association	UK	Get help
EPIC Restart Foundation	UK	Get help
Breakeven	UK	Find support group
Ara Recovery for All	UK	Get help
Aquarius	UK	Get help
GamblingCare	IE	Get help

References

[1] ttps://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/directory/gamfam

[2] ttps://gamfam.org.uk/

[3] ttps://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5161846

[4] ttps://gamfam.org.uk/for-the-gambler/#gra5p

[5] ttps://gamfam.org.uk/our-projects/#for-schools

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

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@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 | type          = Support community
 | founded       = 2019-10-11
-| address       = 19 Holywells Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 0DL, UK
+| address       = Suffolk, UK
 | website       = https://gamfam.org.uk
 | settings      = Online, One-to-one, Group session
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 |}
 ==GamLearn alternatives==
-{| class="wikitable"
+{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
-! Community
+! Community !! Country !! Help for Problem Gambling
-! Website
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/gam-anon|Gam-Anon]] || Global || [https://www.gam-anon.org/meeting-directory/international-meetings Find a meeting]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/ga|Gamblers Anonymous (GA)]] || Global || [https://gamblersanonymous.org/find-a-meeting/ Find a meeting]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/smartrecovery|SMART Recovery]] || Global || [https://www.smartrecoveryinternational.org/meetings Find a meeting]
 |-
-| [[gambling/help/adferiad-recovery|Adferiad Recovery]]
+| [[gambling/help/gambleaware|GambleAware]] || UK || [https://www.gambleaware.org/tools-and-support/support-in-your-area/service-finder-results/?find=true Find local support]
-| [https://adferiad.org/ adferiad.org]
 |-
-| [[gambling/help/smartrecovery|SMART Recovery]]
+| [[gambling/help/gamcare|GamCare]] || UK || [https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/find-local-support/ Find local support]
-| [https://smartrecovery.org/ smartrecovery.org]
 |-
-| [[gambling/help/gambleaware|GambleAware]]
+| [[gambling/help/evive|Evive]] || UK || [https://www.getevive.com/ Find support]
-| [https://www.gambleaware.org/ gambleaware.org]
 |-
-| [[gambling/help/ga|Gamblers Anonymous]]
+| [[gambling/help/gamlearn|GamLEARN]] || UK || [https://gamlearn.org.uk/cjs-referal-form Get justice support]
-| [https://gamblersanonymous.org/ gamblersanonymous.org]
 |-
-| [[gambling/help/gam-anon|Gam-Anon]]
+| [[gambling/help/gwl|Gambling with Lives]] || UK || [https://gamblingwithlives.beaconforms.com/form/12aea293 Get help]
-| [https://www.gam-anon.org/ gam-anon.org]
 |-
-| [[gambling/help/gamcare|GamCare]]
+| [[gambling/help/betknowmore|Betknowmore (BKM)]] || UK || [https://airtable.com/appCroq1jjv2RuHd6/shr9hMKZkOjAD2ooI Get help]
-| [https://gamcare.org.uk gamcare.org.uk]
 |-
-| [[gambling/help/evive|Evive Community (GamTalk)]]
+| [[gambling/help/adferiad-recovery|Adferiad Recovery]] || UK || [https://adferiad.org/our-services/gambling/ Get help]
-| [https://www.getevive.com/ getevive.com]
 |-
-| [[gambling/help/betknowmore|BetKnowMore (BKM)]]
+| [[gambling/help/gordonmoody|Gordon Moody Association]] || UK || [https://gordonmoody.org.uk/treatment-options/ Get help]
-| [https://www.betknowmoreuk.org/ betknowmoreuk.org]
 |-
-| [[gambling/help/gordonmoody|Gordon Moody]]
+| [[gambling/help/epic-restart|EPIC Restart Foundation]] || UK || [https://www.epicrestartfoundation.org/pages/our-programmes Get help]
-| [https://adferiad.org/ adferiad.org]
 |-
-| [[gambling/help/gamblepause|GamblePause]]
+| [[gambling/help/breakeven|Breakeven]] || UK || [https://www.breakeven.org.uk/support-groups Find support group]
-| [https://www.gamblepause.com gamblepause.com]
 |-
-| [[gambling/help/gamblealert|GambleAlert]]
+| [[gambling/help/ara|Ara Recovery for All]] || UK || [https://www.recovery4all.co.uk//contact-us/ Get help]
-| [https://gamblealert.org/ gamblealert.org]
 |-
-| [[gambling/help/rgk|Responsible Gambling Kenya (RGK)]]
+| [[gambling/help/aquarius|Aquarius]] || UK || [https://aquarius.org.uk/services/gambling-support/ Get help]
-| [https://www.responsiblegambling.or.ke/ responsiblegambling.or.ke]
 |-
-| [[gambling/help/gamlearn|GamLearn]]
+| [[gambling/help/gamblingcare|GamblingCare]] || IE || [https://gamblingcare.ie/get-help/get-help-for-problem-gambling/ Get help]
-| [https://gamlearn.org.uk/ gamlearn.org.uk]
 |}
 == References ==
 {{DISPLAYTITLE:GamFam}}
 {{#seo:
-|title = GamFam » Gambling Addiction Help and Support Services
+|title = GamFam » Gambling Addiction Help and Support Groups
 |description = GamFam: Free Peer Support for Gambling Addiction & Affected Families in the UK
 |image = gamfan-logo.png}}