The gambling industry is in disarray as a result of a major change in the UK’s approach to damage reduction. On January 28, 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) released its first-ever clinical guidelines on the negative effects of gaming. Keeping gambling treatment programs free from industry influence is one of NICE’s core directives.
Strained Relationships and Exclusion
The new guidelines have led to fractured relationships and growing anxiety among stakeholders in the harm reduction sector. According to Frank McCready, a former head of safer gambling at GamCare and current member of Better Change, there is widespread uncertainty about how to proceed. He stated, “People are very nervous and don’t know which direction they should be taking.”
The guidelines also resulted in GamCare’s decision to discontinue its Safer Gambling Standard function at the end of 2024. The organization feared that continued involvement could jeopardize its NHS partnerships.
Robert Mabbett, engagement director at Better Change, highlighted concerns over the exclusion of experienced professionals. “The industry voluntarily provided both money and expertise. Now, industry voices are being dismissed, and experienced professionals are being locked out simply because of past associations,” Mabbett said. He added that, while this approach might have been understandable a decade ago, the situation has changed.
The sector faces growing uncertainty about future funding. Gambling operators contributed £120 million ($148.96 million) between 2019 and 2024 for research, education, and treatment. However, the new mandatory levy, aimed at raising £100 million ($124.14 million) annually, lacks clear guidelines on how it will be distributed.
McCready also recounted an incident in East Yorkshire, where organizations with industry connections had their invitations revoked just a day before a public health event. “That’s the clearest example of direct exclusion I’ve seen. It was a crying shame that groups wanting to support public health efforts were shut out simply due to perceived conflicts of interest,” McCready said.
The exclusion of industry-linked professionals from harm reduction efforts could undermine progress, experts warn. McCready emphasized the need for transparency, collaboration, and a realistic approach to address gambling harm. “Instead, we’re seeing division, exclusion, and a reluctance to tap into expertise that has been built over years,” he added.
As the sector continues to grapple with these challenges, the future of UK gambling harm reduction remains uncertain.
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