- 92% of the total contributions were donated by the four largest gambling operators.
- The total sum donated by the largest four operators is an increase on last year’s donation.
- GambleAware calls for urgency on the upcoming consultations on the statutory levy as set out in the Government White Paper, to ensure a smooth transition period.
GambleAware has today published details of donations it received for the 12 months ending 31 March 2023. The total amount received was £46.5 million.
The four largest UK gambling operators donated 92% of the total contributions, which came to a total of around £42.9 million. That amount is an increase on last year’s donation from those operators and is due to their commitment to raise the percentage of their Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) they contribute in donations from 0.1% in increments to 1% by 2023/2024.1
The recent release of the Government’s Gambling White Paper included proposals for a statutory levy, which gambling operators would be legally required to pay into, rather than voluntarily donating to organisations such as GambleAware for research, prevention and treatment (RET) funding. GambleAware has long called for the introduction of a statutory levy and welcomes the proposed changes. However, it is now critical to move with urgency to ensure the measures outlined are implemented swiftly, while ensuring voluntary industry donations do not stall or decline during the transition period.
Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive of GambleAware, said: “As the leading independent charity and strategic commissioner of gambling harm prevention and treatment across Great Britain, funding is key to ensure the effective delivery of the National Gambling Support Network and our many other programmes of work to address and prevent gambling harm.
“We welcome government plans to introduce a statutory levy as outlined in its Gambling White Paper, which will help provide stable funding. We hope that changes will be made swiftly, as any significant delay in moving to the statutory levy risks slowing down the pace at which we have been, and plan to continue, transforming prevention and treatment services as outlined in our five year organisational strategy."
The full list of organisations and the amounts they have donated is available to view in full here.
Notes to Editor
1. The amount donated by the largest four operators in 2021/22 was £30.9m.
