UK Government Invests £25.4 Million in Gambling Harm Prevention Groups

(AsiaGameHub) –   The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced a provisional allocation of £25.4 million to fund gambling-harm prevention and resilience programs for the two-year period spanning 2026 to 2028.

This new funding follows the implementation of a statutory levy, which replaced the previous voluntary system in April of last year. Through this levy, 33 voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) groups across England will be granted funds to carry out research and preventative initiatives.

So far, the levy has generated nearly £120 million in total funds.

A statement from the DHSC indicated that the money is intended to maintain and broaden prevention efforts led by third-sector organizations. It also aims to strengthen their capacity for long-term project management.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), which is now responsible for managing the distribution of statutory levy funds, noted that these allocations were determined following a closed application window that took place in January and February 2026.

The selection process followed rigorous eligibility and scoring standards and included comprehensive due-diligence assessments.

OHID required all participating organizations to disclose any potential conflicts of interest and to commit to ending any direct financial support from the gambling industry, though social lotteries and the National Lottery are exempt from this rule.

Furthermore, applicants were instructed to reassess any materials or methodologies they had previously used that were funded by organizations like GambleAware under the old voluntary levy system.

GamCare included among funded charities

The provisional list of recipients features a diverse array of organizations, ranging from major national gambling charities and educational trusts to community groups and local advice centers.

Key provisional funding amounts include:

• GamCare: £4.04 million.
• Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM): £3.0 million.
• Betknowmore: £2.99 million.
• BetBlocker: £1.12 million.
• Various Citizens Advice branches and regional VCSE groups: receiving grants ranging from roughly £140,000 to £1.3 million.

The largest provisional grant was awarded to GamCare. The charity, which operates the National Gambling Helpline, recently highlighted data showing that students who gamble are losing an average of £50 per week.

The department stated that these grants are meant to encourage “equitable and innovative prevention strategies” while improving the ability of VCSE organizations to maintain sustainable initiatives.

£12 million designated for upper-tier local authorities

OHID pointed out that these figures are currently provisional and will be finalized through formal grant agreements. Consequently, the names of recipients and the specific amounts awarded may change.

In addition to the £25.4 million fund, the department announced a separate distribution of £12 million from the statutory levy to support upper-tier local authorities during the 2026-27 financial year.

These local authority funds are earmarked for community-level gambling-harm reduction and prevention efforts. Meanwhile, NHS England has overseen a separate VCSE grant specifically for treatment-related services.

The requirement for successful applicants to stop accepting direct industry funding by April 2026 is intended to address independence concerns. Awards will be officially confirmed once organizations complete their final grant agreements.