Funding for GamCare's integrated and national help services for problem gamblers is under threat by a proposal from the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board to set up an advice service, the charity claims.
At present, 25,000 gambling machines around the UK, advice websites, gambling premises and leaflets carry the Gamcare telephone number.
In 2008, more than 50,000 people contacted the Gamcare service for help, advice and support from trained advisors. The telephone and online phone service costs £800,000 a year to run.
The Government's Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB) recommendation to "commission an national telephone help and advice line with web support" at the cost of £1 million a year is one of a number proposals put forward to tackle gambling.
It also proposes £50,000 to redevelop the Gamble Aware website. GamCare said that not one of their 332,000 web visitors in 2009 came from this site.
Gamcare chief executive Andy McLellan said: "Problem gambling may be costing the country as much as £2 billion a year. We know that less than 1% of people who could benefit from treatment are actually getting it. So the need for action is not only clear - it is also urgent.
"We fully endorse the RGSB's commitment to making decisions based on evidence and evaluation, and therefore welcome their proposals to review best practice in the fields of prevention and treatment. This work is overdue and we will cooperate fully to find out what works and to improve our services.
"But we think the board has been premature in coming to conclusions in advance of this review.
"An independent and impartial national helpline already exists and is working well. The GamCare Helpline, costing just more than £800,000 in 2008/9, is valued by its users, other treatpromotionment providers and the industry, which has made a considerable investment over 12 years in its creation, development and promiton.
"Some 94% of its users say it is either excellent or very good.
"It is far from clear what benefits there would be for a problem gamblers or their families in creating a new helpline with a new number."
Mr McLellan continued: "We believe the changes proposed would be detrimental to the quality and effectiveness of the service. There would also be considerable extra one-off and continuing costs for the industry, with no extra benefits for problem gamblers"
John Travers, corporate affairs manager of the Gambling Commission, said: "The Responsible Gambling Strategy Board is a new independent body and has published what are initial recommendations on the future provision of research, education and treatment for problem gambling.
"The RGSB is fully committed to consulting on the development of a national telephone helpline with GamCare and others before making a final recommendation next summer. The RGSB has already said that GamCare should be well placed to make a bid to run the service."
GamCare is an authority on the provision, advice, practical help, support and counselling in addressing the social impact of gambling. More information can be found as www.gamcare.org.uk
The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate commercial gambling in Great Britain. More information can be found at www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk.
