The Gambling Commission has announced that funds from regulatory settlements will now be directed into the government’s consolidated fund. This decision allows the government to choose whether to allocate these funds toward addressing gambling-related harms or other initiatives. The confirmation came on Wednesday as part of an update following a public consultation where stakeholders expressed worries about the potential misallocation of funds if removed from the gambling ecosystem.
Historically, monetary settlements agreed upon between license holders and the commission were directed to GambleAware, which aimed to support research into problem gambling. However, GambleAware ceased operations in March after the introduction of the Statutory Levy, a system where mandatory industry funding addresses research and prevention efforts for gambling-related issues, under the government’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).
The consultation, which concluded in April, sought input regarding the decision to funnel settlement funds into the consolidated fund. It drew 28 responses from various stakeholders, including operators, trade bodies, charities addressing gambling harms, and the public.
Feedback revealed that half of the respondents disagreed with the Gambling Commission's approach, fearing that funds moving outside the gambling framework would instead cater to government priorities unrelated to gambling. "There was a belief that without this connection, regulatory settlements would no longer act as a deterrent," the Gambling Commission noted in its review of the consultation.
The regulator found that while some respondents wanted settlement funds to supplement the overall levy pool available to levy commissioning bodies, others advocated for a more adaptable method that could aid smaller third sector organizations without access to levy funding.
Acknowledging that shifting funds to the Consolidated Fund may be unpopular, especially among those who previously benefited from regulatory settlements, the Gambling Commission stated, "Despite the lack of overall support for the proposal, given the limited alternative options available to us, we still believe that… sending regulatory settlements to the Consolidated Fund remains our only viable option."
The Commission also conveyed confidence that the funds from the Statutory Levy would offer a stable and just funding framework for the research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related issues.
Usually, money from the Consolidated Fund is allocated for public expenditures, covering everyday public services, governmental operations, and servicing national debt.
Critics within the sector have raised concerns over the OHID’s planning for the distribution of funds from the levy, particularly emphasizing that contributions should benefit organizations distanced from the industry. This skepticism arose after researchers indicated potential industry influence over research funding allocations during a parliamentary health committee in April 2025, prior to the Statutory Levy’s implementation later that year.
According to a December report from the DCMS, approximately 50% of levy funds are designed for treatment, while 30% is earmarked for prevention and 20% for research.
