Gambling Recovery Information Network

What is GRIN?

The Gambling Recovery Information Network (GRIN) is a partnership between Betknowmore UK and the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health (MACGH) that embeds lived experience into safer‑gambling systems across the US, UK, and Canada. GRIN brings together trained Peer Support Specialists and lived‑experience advisory members who have personally been affected by gambling harm (either through their own play or as a loved one) and equips them to support individuals, inform policy, and strengthen player‑health practices.

GRIN’s workforce reflects a wide range of communities, gambling experiences, and cultural backgrounds. Members are recruited through recovery networks and community channels, then hired and trained as Peer Support Specialists or Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) members. Through this model, GRIN provides organizations with direct access to real‑world insight, practical support, and diverse perspectives that improve products, services, and recovery outcomes.

For more information about the Gambling Recovery Information Network and how your organization can leverage the power of lived experience, please fill out the form provided.

For more information about the Gambling Recovery Information Network and how your organization can leverage the power of lived experience, please fill out the form below.

The Three Pillars of GRIN

One-to-one recovery support from trained peer support specialists with lived experience of gambling harm.

A panel of people in recovery who advise operators, regulators, clinicians, and researchers on products, services, and interventions.

Our ten-module curriculum is rooted in trauma-informed care, public health, and lived-experience practice, and is certified by the IPGGC.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of services can Peer Support Specialists provide?

Follow up via phone or email after a self‑exclusion to connect with resources and referrals.
Weekly Telephone Recovery Support (TRS) to maintain motivation for people working on behavior change around gambling harm.
Staffing of Helpline or LiveChat for immediate, stigma‑free conversation with a peer.
Co‑facilitation of peer support groups to create a safe, stigma‑free space for connection and shared experience.
Integration of gambling expertise into substance use treatment programming. Across all formats, peers offer empathy, practical guidance, and non‑judgmental support grounded in their own lived experience.

What makes Peer Support Specialist different from clinical treatment?

Peer support is grounded in shared lived experience. Peers offer empathy, accountability, and practical guidance from someone who has personally navigated gambling harm. It complements clinical treatment but does not replace it.

What kinds of challenges can Peer Support Specialists help with?

Peers help people navigate early recovery, manage urges, reduce shame, rebuild routines, and connect to community or clinical resources. They also help reduce isolation, which is a major risk factor for relapse.

How do Peer Support Specialists maintain boundaries and safety?

Peers work within a structured safeguarding framework that includes supervision, clear escalation pathways, and defined boundaries. This protects both the peer and the person who receives support.

What is the value of Telephone Recovery Support (TRS)?

TRS helps people maintain momentum after self‑exclusion or during early recovery. Weekly calls help people stay accountable, feel supported, and reduce harmful gambling behaviors.

How does the Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) support organizations?

LEAP brings real‑world insight into how gambling harm develops, how players experience products, and where systems unintentionally create risk. Organizations use LEAP to strengthen safer‑play tools, refine messaging, and improve customer journeys.

What types of projects can LEAP review or advise on?

LEAP can review product features, marketing campaigns, training modules, self‑exclusion processes, policy drafts, and research concepts. The panel can also test prototypes and provide feedback on tone, language, and user experience.

What makes lived experience valuable for operators and regulators?

Lived experience reveals patterns, risks, and emotional realities that data alone cannot capture. LEAP helps organizations understand how harm escalates, how players interpret messaging, and where systems can unintentionally cause harm.

Testimonials

“Reviewing the National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (NVSEP) with the Lived Experience Advisory Panel gave us raw, honest feedback grounded in firsthand experience with gambling harm, something that we cannot easily get anywhere else. The group’s unique perspective helped us shape self-exclusion so that it is not just functional, but truly responsive to the needs of the people it is meant to protect.”

"Understanding and incorporating the perspectives of people with lived experience must be a priority for any organization aiming to build effective responsible gambling programming, training, and education. LEAP offers invaluable access to individuals with lived experience. Their members are thoughtful, collaborative, and generous with their feedback. They provide insights you can use in facilitated sessions as well as through other forms of engagement."

"The program taught us how to use our lived experience to inspire hope and motivate real change. Its emphasis on active listening reshaped how I connect with and support my peers. Matt L. and the other instructors created a safe, supportive space to learn how to handle difficult situations confidently. "

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