UK allocates £25.4M from gambling levy to 33 harm-prevention groups

From GamCare to local councils, millions are now flowing to tackle gambling harm. But strict rules on industry funding could reshape how these groups operate.

, and Administrator

2026 May 21 . 11:01 AM

1 min read

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UK allocates £25.4M from gambling levy to 33 harm-prevention groups

The UK government has provisionally allocated £25.4 million from the statutory gambling levy to 33 organisations across England. The funding will support prevention and resilience programmes between 2026 and 2028. The move follows the levy’s collection of nearly £120 million so far. The largest share of the first prevention round went to GamCare, which received £4.04 million. YGAM was awarded £3.0 million, while Betknowmore secured £2.99 million. BetBlocker also obtained £1.12 million, with other grants ranging from around £140,000 to £1.3 million.

The grants were allocated after a closed application process, assessed through a scoring system based on published criteria. Due diligence checks and conflict-of-interest declarations were required, with successful applicants agreeing to stop taking direct industry funding—except from the National Lottery or social lotteries.

Beyond the initial distribution, £12 million from the levy will go to upper-tier local councils in 2026 to 2027, with another £12 million planned for 2027 to 2028. The prevention funding falls under the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), while treatment services receive the largest share of the levy, and research funding is managed by UK Research and Innovation. The allocated funds will focus on prevention and resilience rather than treatment. Organisations receiving grants must now comply with the levy’s conditions, including restrictions on industry funding. The scheme aims to reduce gambling-related harm through targeted programmes over the next two years.