Government confirms plans to introduce new £100 million levy on gambling operators

The UK government has confirmed plans to implement a statutory levy intended to raise £100 million for the research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms, paid for by operators.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it would also go ahead with the introduction of online slots stake limits. 

Betting and Gaming Council chief executive Grainne Hurst said she was concerned with the tone of the announcement, which confirms implementation of measures contained within the previous government's gambling white paper published last year.

The news comes following a consultation on how the statutory levy should be designed and put into practice, which closed in January.

In its response to the consultation, the government confirmed 50 per cent of all funding generated will be directed to NHS England and appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales. Another 30 per cent will go to efforts to prevent gambling harm, including "national public health campaigns". 

The remaining 20 per cent will be directed to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to develop a research programme to inform future policy and regulation.

Funding will be distributed to the NHS and UKRI by the Gambling Commission under the direction of the government, which added the gambling industry would have no say over how money for research, prevention and treatment is spent. 

Gambling minister Baroness Twycross

Gambling minister Baroness Twycross said: "Gambling harm can ruin people’s finances, relationships, and ultimately lives. We are absolutely committed to implementing strengthened measures for those at risk, as well as providing effective support for those affected. 

"The introduction of the first legally mandated levy will be instrumental in supporting research, raising awareness and reducing the stigma around gambling-related harm. 

"We are also helping to protect those at risk, with a particular focus on young adults, by introducing stake limits for online slots. These measures will help build an NHS fit for our future and strengthen protections whilst also allowing people to continue to gamble safely."

The release announcing the news quoted NHS national director for mental health Claire Murdoch as claiming that the issue of problem gambling had "skyrocketed".

Betting and Gaming Council chief executive Grainne Hurst

Hurst said the BGC had supported plans for stake limits and the statutory levy outlined in the white paper and its members had contributed more than £170m over the last four years to tackle problem gambling, including £50m this year alone.

She added: "Ministers must not lose sight of the fact the vast majority of the 22.5m people who enjoy a bet each month, on the lottery, in bookmakers, casinos, bingo halls and online do so safely, while the most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that just 0.4 per cent of the adult population are problem gamblers.

"The tone of this announcement suggests government is at risk of losing perspective of these facts, while simply dancing to the tune of anti-gambling prohibitionists, which serves no one."

The DCMS said the levy and online slot stake limits complemented other changes being made by the government and Gambling Commission, including affordability checks.

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