In an important move to combat gambling-related harm, the UK government has announced the implementation of a statutory fee on gaming earnings. The charge, which is anticipated to go into force in 2025, intends to raise £100 million a year to support research, treatment, and preventive programmes.
All gambling operators will be subject to the fee, which has rates that range from 0.1% to 1.1% of gross gambling yield (GGY). The operator’s industry, the kind of gaming goods they offer, and the risk profiles involved will all affect rates. The present voluntary method, which has been criticized for being unfair because some operators only contribute £1 a year, will be replaced by these reforms.
Simultaneously, the government strengthened safeguards against gambling harm by imposing new stake restrictions for online slot games.
The reforms follow consultations held between October 2023 and January 2024. Input from clinicians, academics, industry stakeholders, and the public shaped the design of the levy, which will undergo a formal review by 2030.
Funding Allocation
The NHS will receive 50% of the levy funds to expand its gambling treatment programs. Another 30% will support public health campaigns and frontline staff training, while 20% will fund research initiatives under UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The Gambling Commission will oversee fund distribution, ensuring operators have no influence over how the money is spent.
Baroness Twycross highlighted the critical need for the levy, stating: “Gambling harm can ruin people’s finances, relationships, and ultimately lives. The introduction of the first legally mandated levy will be instrumental in supporting research, raising awareness, and reducing the stigma around gambling-related harm.”
Claire Murdoch, NHS National Director for Mental Health, praised the move: “I am delighted to welcome the commitment to a mandatory gambling levy which the NHS, bereaved families, and the voluntary sector have been calling for.”
Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones, NHS England’s national clinical advisor on gambling harms, described the reforms as a milestone in tackling the “devastating” effects of gambling addiction through independent, evidence-based strategies.
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