UK Gambling Charities Feeling The Pinch Over New Government System

UK gambling charities are adamant they need government funding immediately, otherwise problem bettors could miss out on ‘life-saving’ treatment. Fears are mounting that specialist clinics and support groups are teetering on the brink of collapse due to teething issues with the implementation of a new levy system.

Before this year, money invested in problem gambling research, education and treatment had been provided voluntarily by casinos and bookmakers, amounting to around 0.1% of their takings. However, the gambling sector, which is worth £12.5 billion a year, now pays a compulsory levy of up to 1.1% which will raise around £100 million a year.

NHS taking a lead role

The NHS is now the main driving force for distributing funds to clinics and external organisations, taking over from GambleAware in commissioning such services. Over the past few months, many smaller groups have devoted their energies to fundraising activities, resulting in serious disruption to their activities.

According to two of the UK's leading gambling charities — GamCare, which runs the National Gambling Helpline, and Gordon Moody which specialises in addiction counselling and residential treatment programmes — the levy system has been plagued by delays. Indeed, they have complained about the way the system has been rolled out, and it has left them in a state of limbo.

Lack of clarity

Those organisations working in the gambling harms charity sector have been left angry with the way things have been handled by the government. Victoria Corbishley, GamCare’s chief executive, insists there needs to be more clarity provided by charities bidding for funding.

She said:

“The uncertainty is causing challenges. We don’t know what commissioners want from us April onwards. It runs the risk of potential disruption to some of the services, particularly smaller organisations that we rely on.

“We need to know that the organisations we refer on to have funding secure and will be in a position to provide support, or who do we signpost to?”

Government initiative to address problem gambling

Recently, the UK government launched the country’s Men’s Health Strategy, designed to address mental health issues among men and boys, and problem gambling has been factored in. Responsible gambling, meanwhile, has become a priority for bookmakers with problem betting on the rise.

Figures supplied by the Gambling Commission indicated that the percentage of problem gamblers in the UK, rose slightly to 2.7% in 2024, which was up from 2.5% in 2023. Compared to December 2022, where 0.2% of respondents identified as problem gamblers, this is a worrying sign.

Goalposts shifting

Some gambling charities feel the goalposts have been shifting in relation to the criteria for approving treatment services. Currently, Gordon Moody, which works with about 2,000 people a year, relies on the gambling levy to provide its services free of charge.

Gordon Moody is adamant that the government needs to rescue charities now to ensure vital treatment can continue. A spokesperson for the charity said:

“This approach is leaving longstanding, expert and proven organisations like ours uncertain about their future beyond March 2026, and is already impacting on frontline services and the people with the most severe gambling harms.

“We are calling on the government to approve interim funding for charities delivering essential treatment and prevention activities for the next 12 months and to initiate a comprehensive evaluation of all treatment providers.”