(AsiaGameHub) - The British government is working to alleviate the financial strain on charities addressing gambling harm as they navigate a new, and at times contentious, funding system.
According to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which oversees gambling regulation in the UK, the statutory research, education, and treatment (RET) levy has generated nearly £120 million in its inaugural year.
This substantial amount is earmarked specifically for research into, prevention of, and treatment for gambling-related harm. However, the transition from the previous funding arrangements to the new model has posed difficulties for some charitable organizations.
To address these challenges, the DCMS has established a three-month transition grant fund. This grant will be accessible to UK charities focused on gambling harm from April 1 to June 1, 2026. In instances where the DCMS makes a decision after April 1, charities will be permitted to submit claims retroactively.
Charities will be required to meet specific eligibility criteria to be considered for a grant.
Eligible organizations must have been engaged in 'relevant activity' in March 2026 to support service users in England. Furthermore, they must have previously applied for and been unsuccessful in securing funding from the gambling levy through either the Gambling Harms Prevention VCSE Grant Fund or the Gambling Harms Treatment VCSE Grant Fund.
The purpose of this grant is to cover staffing costs and associated overheads necessary for the continued operation of charity services. Capital expenditures, defined as any spending that results in the creation or improvement of an asset valued at over £2,000, are not eligible for funding.
Organizations have until April 30, 2026, to submit their grant applications.
Charities navigate a controversial shift
The levy was a key component of the Gambling Act review, replacing the former system where operators voluntarily contributed 1% of their revenue to GambleAware. GambleAware then managed the commissioning of RET projects nationwide.
Invoices for the statutory levy were first issued by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) on September 1, 2025, with a payment deadline of October 1, 2025. The levy is now an annual obligation for licensed operators, with invoices dispatched on September 1 each year.
However, the introduction of the levy has not been without controversy, and several charities have expressed concerns regarding the long-term viability of the UK's gambling harm research, education, and treatment system under the new funding structure.
NHS England, which is undergoing restructuring, has assumed responsibility for treatment funding. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) will oversee prevention efforts, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will manage research initiatives.
GambleAware ceased operations earlier this month, as its commissioning functions have been effectively transferred to the NHS. The charity had long advocated for the establishment of a statutory levy, but with itself retaining the lead role in commissioning.
Various charitable organizations voiced alarm at these changes when the Gambling Act review White Paper was published in April 2023, and have continued to do so.
For instance, the Gambling Lived Experience Network (GLEN) shared some frustrations on LinkedIn just last week. However, the organization did offer some commendation for OHID, describing its performance as significantly better than that of NHS England and UKRI.
Is there any going back?
Regardless of the opinions held by charities, it appears that the statutory levy is a permanent fixture. Even if the government were to reconsider its position, such a significant undertaking would require considerable time to reverse.
The process of commissioning services is also well underway. In Scotland, the devolved government has begun allocating its £7.9 million share of the UK-wide gambling levy. These funds will be distributed among the NHS, local authority partners, and the third sector, which includes charities.
Scotland's Public Health Minister, Jenni Minto, stated: “Gambling harm is a significant issue affecting far too many people in Scotland. It impacts not only individuals who gamble but also their families, relationships, communities, and society as a whole.
“We are already working diligently with partners to mitigate this, and these awards represent a major step forward. This funding will support a variety of projects and programs for individuals dealing with what is often an unseen issue.
“Data indicates that over two percent of Scottish adults – more than 90,000 individuals – may be problem gamblers. The funding provides a balanced approach across the third sector, including community and voluntary organizations, and services delivered through the NHS and local authorities.”
The largest beneficiaries include the RCA Trust (£1 million), Public Health Scotland (£967,000), NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (£926,000), Fast Forward (£561,000), Citizens Advice Scotland (£450,000), and Simon Community Scotland (£445,000).
Other recipients are Gambling With Lives (£124,000), Charity Space Scotland (£47,000), Scottish Ambulance Service (£45,000), Young Scot (£30,000), and Dundee and Angus College (£52,000).
The RCA Trust, the largest recipient, offers counseling services for individuals affected by gambling-related harm and other conditions such as drug and alcohol abuse. Andy Todd, a spokesperson for the charity, commented:
“The funding provided by the Scottish Government will be crucial for the ongoing delivery of prevention, education, training, treatment, and support for those impacted by gambling harms across Scotland.
“With gambling harms now being addressed through a public health model, we look forward to collaborating with partners to reduce harms by expanding service provision, decreasing stigma, and working with lived experience perspectives to integrate policy and practice among frontline staff.”
The distribution of gambling harm treatment funding in Scotland follows the Welsh government's announcement of how its share of the RET levy funds would be allocated nine months prior. However, there is still no confirmation regarding how funds will be utilized in England.
Overall, the government anticipates raising between £90 million and £100 million annually from the levy. According to the DCMS, this target was exceeded in its first year, yet there remains no clarity on how these funds will be spent in England, the UK's largest nation.
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