About Recover Me
At University, one of our close friends was struggling with a gambling addiction. It took a number of months to have a conversation with him about it. It started off with going to the casino after a night out and sometimes, placing a bet on the local football team. Soon we found out that this behaviour had escalated and on the night that our student loan had dropped he had put all his student loan on red. This risk had not paid off and he found himself in a very difficult situation. We wanted to find him the best help.
of gambling-related harms. Something that we believe is preventable.
As trainee doctors in the NHS, we met a patient who was suffering from mental health issues secondary to gambling addiction. We witnessed first-hand the serious implications of this devastating addiction. Our patient was unable to access appropriate care to manage his gambling addiction and we found out that current treatment options only cater to 8% of those who need it. We wanted to do more.
Following further research and discussions with gambling addicts, psychologists, and psychiatrists we began to understand the frequency, severity and nature of gambling-related harms. Something that we believe is preventable.
As a result, in 2018, RecoverMe was born. A prototype was built and this was tested with current and ex-problem gamblers. From this, we have shaped the therapy and app to position us to launch RecoverMe in Spring 2020.
About the app
RecoverMe is a clinically informed digital intervention designed to improve access to support for individuals experiencing gambling-related harms.
It was developed in response to a clear gap in provision, observed both through lived experience and frontline NHS clinical practice, where many individuals were unable to access timely, appropriate care. RecoverMe has been built to complement existing services by providing scalable, early intervention and ongoing support.
Since its inception in 2018, the platform has been developed in collaboration with individuals with lived experience, alongside input from psychologists, psychiatrists, and behavioural specialists. The app delivers structured, evidence-based support grounded in established behavioural change approaches, including cognitive behavioural principles and mindfulness-based techniques.
Clinical Model and Development
RecoverMe is underpinned by a clinically led development model.
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• Content is independently developed and informed by established evidence-based approaches
• Clinical input and review are embedded throughout product development
• User pathways are iteratively refined using real-world feedback and engagement data
• The platform is designed to support both self-directed use and integration alongside clinical care
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We recognise the importance of ongoing evaluation and are actively strengthening outcome measurement, data linkage, and feedback mechanisms to support continuous clinical improvement.
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Independence and Governance
RecoverMe operates with a clear and formal commitment to independence.
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At no point has any external organisation had influence over the design, clinical content, data strategy, or delivery of the platform. Governance structures ensure a strict separation between funding and all clinical or product decisions.
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Historically, limited funding was accessed through regulated channels during periods where no public or charitable funding routes were available, in order to maintain free access to the service. This funding was restricted to defined operational and accessibility purposes and did not influence any aspect of clinical content or product direction.
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In line with the direction of national policy and the statutory gambling levy framework, RecoverMe has now:
• Formally adopted a no industry funding policy
• Embedded this commitment within its governance framework and quality management processes
• Ensured that no individuals involved in the organisation hold industry affiliations
• Committed to full public transparency through declaration of interests and funding disclosures
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This approach aligns with the requirement for services to be demonstrably free from industry influence and to maintain public trust in the delivery of prevention and treatment interventions.
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Funding and Transparency
RecoverMe is committed to a high standard of transparency and accountability.
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The majority of historical funding received by RecoverMe was indirect, through the Gambling Commission’s voluntary Research, Education and Treatment (RET) system. This funding was distributed via intermediary channels rather than directly from gambling operators, forming the primary source of support during the early development and scaling of the platform.
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Indirect (RET-related) funding totalled approximately £57k in 2022, £33k in 2023, £160k in 2024, and £10k in 2025. This funding was used solely to maintain service continuity and accessibility, including platform infrastructure, licensing, and selected non-clinical developments such as translation and wellbeing content.
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Importantly, this funding did not involve any direct relationship with operators and had no influence over the clinical design, content, or strategic direction of RecoverMe. A strict separation between funding and all clinical or product decisions was maintained at all times.
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These measures are designed to support commissioner assurance, align with emerging national requirements, and ensure full visibility of how the service is developed and maintained.
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Role Within the System
RecoverMe is designed to support a population health approach to gambling-related harms.
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The platform can:
• Increase access to early intervention and preventative support
• Provide structured support for individuals not currently engaged with formal services
• Complement existing NHS and third sector provision
• Support stepped care pathways and reduce pressure on specialist services
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We are actively exploring opportunities to integrate with local systems, including referral pathways, data-sharing pilots, and outcome tracking, to support service planning and evaluation.
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Ongoing Development
RecoverMe is an evolving platform.
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We are continuing to strengthen:
• Clinical governance and external oversight
• Outcome measurement and data integration
• Personalisation and user engagement
• Alignment with national commissioning priorities
Our objective is to deliver a scalable, clinically credible, and fully independent digital intervention that supports the effective delivery of gambling harm treatment and prevention services.