The United Kingdom's new statutory gambling levy has begun distributing its first prevention grants through the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), marking one of the most contentious transitions in UK gambling policy as the previous charity-led model helmed by Gambleaware ends.
Key Takeaways
- The statutory levy raised £120 million in year one, replacing Gambleaware's voluntary system.
- Betblocker was confirmed among the first OHID prevention grant recipients on April 8.
- Gamban was excluded due to its limited company structure and moved to a £4.99 monthly paid model in England.
GambleAware's Two-Decade Run Ends as Government Takes Direct Control
OHID, the government body now responsible for commissioning harm prevention services, published its initial list of approved organizations under the Gambling Harms Prevention VCSE Fund. Confirmed recipients include Betblocker, a free blocking software provider that had warned of a funding cliff edge as recently as December.
The statutory levy replaces the voluntary system where licensed operators donated to Gambleaware, which operated since 2002 and served as chief commissioner from 2018. Gambleaware formally ceased on March 31, ending a 20-year run during which it helped build the National Gambling Support Network, supporting over 110,000 individuals. The charity had long advocated for statutory funding, arguing voluntary industry contributions created a conflict of interest.
In November 2024, the UK government appointed three new national commissioners: NHS England for treatment, UK Research and Innovation for research, and OHID for prevention. Andy Boucher, Gambleaware's chair, acknowledged the organization's time had passed. The levy, first invoiced on September 1, 2025, raises approximately £120 million annually from licensed operators, with 30% allocated to prevention.
The transition has been turbulent. Funding decisions were communicated with as little as 13 days' notice before the new system went live on April 1. Multiple established charities were denied funding. Gamban, the UK's leading blocking software provider, was excluded due to its limited company structure (not a VCSE), and subsequently launched a £4.99 monthly subscription in England and Scotland (free in Wales).
The exclusions drew widespread criticism. Jordan Lea of Dealmeout warned the process risked losing sight of those needing help. The Gambling Lived Experience Network called it a glaring example of excluding sector experts. On March 26, a last-minute Gambling Levy Transition Fund was announced, providing three months of emergency funding for organizations left unsupported. Applications remain open until April 30, with no recipients announced at the time of writing.
Betblocker's founder Duncan Garvie welcomed the grant as a significant accolade but noted many important organizations were unsuccessful. OHID also faces questions over its scoring system via the Government Grants Management System. A Labourlist analysis alleged that newer independent public health charities were struck on unspecified due diligence grounds, while established organizations with healthy reserves were approved. The dispute underscores tensions over whether a government-run system can deliver the same breadth of services as the hybrid model, especially as remote gambling duty rose from 21% to 40%. Neither OHID nor the Department of Health has published a complete list of funded organizations or grant amounts.