The British government is trying to ease the burden for betting damage charities sector in the middle of the shift to a brand-new, and in some cases questionable, funding model.

According to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which supervises UK gambling, the statutory research study, education and treatment (RET) levy has raised just under ₤ 120m in its very first year of presence.

This substantial amount will be ringfenced for research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related damage. The transition duration in between the old and new financing models has presented difficulties for some charities, however.

To help treat this, the DCMS has actually prepared a three-month shift grant fund. The grant will be readily available to UK gambling damage charities in between 1 April-1 June 2026, however in cases where DCMS decides after 1 April charities will be able to backdate claims.

Charities will have to fulfill specific eligibility criteria to secure a grant.

Organisations require to have actually been providing 'pertinent activity' in March 2026 to support service users in England and must have formerly bid for and been ejected from funding from the gaming levy via the Gambling Harms Prevention VCSE Grant Fund and/or the Gambling Harms Treatment VCSE Grant Fund.

The grant is being made to cover any staffing and related on-costs for the extension of charity services. Capital expenditure, specified as any costs that results in the development of improvement of a possession worth more than ₤ 2,000, is excluded.

Organisations have until 30 April 2026 to obtain the grant.

Charities turn a controversial corner

The levy was a flagship step of the Gambling Act review, replacing the previous system whereby operators voluntarily contributed 1% of their incomes to GambleAware. The charity would subsequently commission RET projects across the country.

Statutory levy billings were initially provided by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) on 1 September 2025, with a payment due date of 1 October 2025. The levy is now a yearly requirement for licensed operators, with invoices provided 1 September each year.

Its execution has not passed without controversy, however, and different charities have voiced issues about the future sustainability of the UK gambling harm research, education and treatment system under the new financing structure.

NHS England, which is being dismantled, has actually taken on duty for treatment financing, The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) will oversee prevention, and UK Research and (UKRI) will handle research study.

GambleAware closed its doors earlier this month due to its commissioning functions having been effectively taken over by the NHS. The charity had actually long required the development of a statutory levy - however with itself preserving the commissioning lead.

Various charity organisations revealed alarm at the changes when the Gambling Act evaluation White Paper was published in April 2023, and have actually continued to do so.

The Gambling Lived Experience Network (GLEN), for example, expressed some aggravations on LinkedIn simply recently - though the organisation did have some praise for OHID, describing it as carrying out far better than NHS England and UKRI.

No turning back?

Despite charities' viewpoints, it appears that the statutory levy is here to remain. Even if the government were to alter its mind, such a huge undertaking would take some time to pull off.

Commissioning steps are also well underway. In Scotland, the devolved federal government has actually begun divvying up its ₤ 7.9 m share of the UK-wide betting levy. The funds will be split in between the NHS, local authority partners and the third sector - the latter being the charities.

Scotland's Public Health Minister, Jenni Minto, stated: "Gambling damage is a considerable issue for too many people in Scotland who are coping with it. It impacts not only individuals who gamble however also their families, relationships, communities and larger society.

"We are currently striving with partners on decreasing this and these awards are a significant step forward. This funding will help support a variety of jobs and programs for individuals dealing with what is frequently a hidden concern.

"Data shows that over 2 per cent of Scottish adults - over 90,000 individuals - might be issue gamblers. The financing offers a balance across the third sector, consisting of the community and voluntary sector, and services offered through the NHS and local authorities."

The biggest receivers are the RCA Trust (₤ 1m), 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 receivers 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 largest recipient, the RCA Trust, is a counselling service for people experiencing gambling-related damage and other conditions like alcohol and drug abuse. Andy Todd, a representative for the charity, stated:

"The financing supplied by the Scottish Government will be fundamental in the continued shipment of avoidance, education, training, treatment and support for those affected by betting harms throughout Scotland.

"With gambling harms now being translucented a public health design, we anticipate working with partners to lower harms by expanding service arrangement, reducing preconception and working with the voices of lived experience to embed policy and practice throughout frontline staff."

The circulation of gambling harm treatment financing in Scotland comes nine months after the Welsh federal government announced how its share of the RET levy funds would be distributed. There is still no confirmation regarding how funds will be invested in England, nevertheless.