The UK gambling levy controversy and its impact on charity funding

(AsiaGameHub) –   With the UK’s new gambling charity funding system now officially operational, will this prove a clear positive for the sector, or will further persuasion be needed to justify the decision?

For those unaware of how gambling harm funding works in the UK, gambling operators previously made voluntary contributions to GambleAware, which would allocate the funds to charities across the entire UK.

However, with GambleAware shutting down, this old model is now a thing of the past, following recommendations laid out in the 2005 Gambling Act Review White Paper that mandated a statutory Prevention, Treatment and Research levy to raise £100 million annually.

Half of these funds are earmarked for treatment and administered by the NHS, 20% goes toward research managed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), leaving 30% for prevention efforts—money intended for gambling charities.

This prevention funding stream, previously overseen by GambleAware, is now handled by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), and most critically — not every charity has been selected to receive funding.

Following recent final funding confirmations for charities, LinkedIn was swamped with posts from specialist gambling harm groups expressing their disappointment over the selection process, with some confirming they will take drastic action to cope with their lack of financial support.

Nadine Ashworth, Chief Executive of gambling charm charity thrivin’ together, warned that many people employed in the NHS, armed forces, police, or financial services face job loss risks if they access support through the NHS, making that route off-limits.

GamLEARN, another charity focused on lived experiences, chose to remain positive when announcing it had not been selected in this funding round, though the outcome would still have stung regardless.

EPIC Restart Foundation shared: “We won’t pretend otherwise, it’s a blow, and we’re still taking it in.”

Gamban, a free-to-use comprehensive gambling blocking tool, now requires a subscription to stay operational after failing to secure the funding tender.

The situation is not any easier for charities that did secure funding, either, as they now face heightened attention and pressure to justify their services without being required to provide such explanations.

BetBlocker, for example, was contacted by The Guardian with a list of questions probing the quality of the charity’s services, which founder Duncan Garvie addressed in full on LinkedIn once more.

Naturally, tensions are running high right now, with sharp criticism coming from all corners of the gambling sector.

There is also a significant amount of confusion, as highlighted in an op-ed by Derek Webb, a Labour party donor and gambling reform advocate.

Webb simultaneously criticised charities that previously received gambling donations while lamenting that some have been caught up in ‘unspecified allegations related to due diligence or ineligibility’.

This widespread polarization is set to continue, at least until the dust settles, but the most important question to answer is whether the small number of selected charities can handle the full responsibility of supporting all of the UK’s problem gamblers.

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