Multilingual digital support for people affected by problem gambling.

Gambling Therapy supports people affected by problem gambling, often at moments of personal crisis. Any digital product needed to reflect the sensitivity of that situation and the importance of user trust.

The charity needed a mobile app that could offer practical guidance, wellbeing audio exercises and live chat across iOS and Android. It also needed to protect anonymity, because many users would be hesitant to create an account or share personal details before seeking help.

The first version also had a commercial job to do for the charity: prove the value of the digital service and support future funding applications.

We began by working closely with Gambling Therapy's team to understand their existing support systems and the needs of frontline staff.

The first phase focused on a Minimum Viable Product that would be useful to people seeking support while giving Gambling Therapy something tangible to show funders. We built the app with React Native so it could perform consistently across Android and iOS devices.

The app gives users access to advice, a short self-assessment quiz, guided audio exercises and live chat without mandatory registration. Alongside the app, we built a backend platform that lets Gambling Therapy manage content and review anonymised quiz responses, giving the team useful insight while maintaining user privacy.

The architecture supports multilingual content, helping the charity serve a wider international audience.

The first version of the app was released in October 2016, giving people affected by problem gambling another way to access support when they may not otherwise seek help.

Removing mandatory login requirements lowered the barrier to engagement and helped make the service feel safer and more discreet. Multilingual support broadened the platform's reach, while the MVP approach helped Gambling Therapy demonstrate digital impact and strengthen funding applications for future enhancements.

The app now forms part of the charity's wider support ecosystem, extending access beyond traditional channels.

With a scalable foundation in place, the app can continue to evolve with additional languages, enhanced features and expanded support tools. Digital platforms play an increasingly important role in public health support services, and this work gives Gambling Therapy a practical foundation for reaching more people.