The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) is urging the UK government to ensure that independent research, education and treatment services for problem gambling continue to receive funding under a future levy.
The BGC made the call in response to the government’s public consultation on a proposed levy to fund research, education and treatment (RET) services in the UK through the National Health Service.
The BGC has long supported a levy on gambling operators to fund RET services, with its members already contributing millions of pounds to sustain a network of third-sector RET providers across the country.
“Rates of problem gambling remain low and stable, at approximately 0.4 per cent of England’s adult population according to the most recent NHS Health Survey. But when people do struggle, it is often this network which comes to their aid. Indeed, around 85 per cent of all problem gamblers receiving treatment in Great Britain are treated by the third sector,” says BGC chair Brigid Simmonds.
“Contrary to the claims of anti-gambling campaigners, our members have no say on how these funds are spent and RET donations only go to independent organisations accredited by the Gambling Commission to deliver these critical services.”
The BGC is concerned that over 120 third-sector problem gambling treatment centres and many educational programmes could be put at risk from the government’s proposal, noting that NHS clinics mainly treat those who are classed as disordered or addicted gamblers, a much smaller subset of problem gamblers. Meanwhile, the vast majority of problem gamblers receive counselling and support from third sector charities.
These include the gambling support charities GamCare, YGAM, and Gordon Moody’s.
“Under the consultation, the vast majority of funding, between 40-60 per cent, will go to the NHS, which is currently treating less problem gamblers than the third sector. Meanwhile, 10-20 per cent will go to research and 15-30 per cent on prevention and education,” Simmonds explains.
“This new funding model must protect the third sector, these are the experts, they should have the sustainable funding for their long-term future, or the levy will no longer be fit for purpose. Instead, it will be a hypothecated tax to raise funds for the NHS at a time when many Conservative MPs have said they would oppose new taxes.”
The industry association is also calling for equitable funding for RET services after the government proposed that high street bookmakers contribute four times as much to the levy than high street gaming arcades.
Under the current proposal, adult gaming centres will be expected to pay 0.1 per cent of gross gaming yield to fund RET services, compared to 0.4 per cent of GGY for retail bookmakers, including independent operators.
“That will be a bitter pill to independent bookies which have similar costs but are expected to contribute four times more,” Simmonds says. “They have told us that this disproportionate impact will likely result in staff losses and could see some independent bookies close. Their concern is real, over 170 independent bookmakers have closed since 2019, a reduction of 25 per cent.
“While we don’t have any say over how this money is currently distributed and nor do we seek one under the new statutory levy, we are however concerned about the future of funding for a network of over 120 third-sector problem gambling treatment centres and many educational programmes that could be put at risk from proposals contained in the Government’s consultation.”