The Gambling Commission has confirmed that funds from regulatory settlements will now be directed to the government’s consolidated fund. This move allows the government to decide whether to allocate these funds toward addressing gambling-related harms or other initiatives.
The commission announced this decision in an update on Wednesday, following a public consultation that raised concerns about potential uses of the funds if they were removed from the gambling sector. Previously, settlements made between license holders and the commission were designated for GambleAware projects, which aimed to support research into problem gambling. However, GambleAware ceased operations in March, coinciding with the introduction of the Statutory Levy.
The Statutory Levy requires mandatory industry funding for research and prevention related to gambling harms, which is now managed by the government’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).
During its consultation — which ran until April — the Gambling Commission solicited input on whether settlements should be funneled into the consolidated fund. A total of 28 responses were collected from various stakeholders, including operators, trade bodies, charities focused on gambling harms, and members of the public.
Responses varied significantly. Half of the participants disagreed with the commission’s proposal, expressing concern that funds could be diverted from the gambling ecosystem and utilized for non-gambling-related government priorities. Many respondents believed that severing the connection between regulatory settlements and the gambling sector would undermine the deterrent effect of these settlements.
In its review, the commission noted that some participants suggested the funds should still contribute to the overall levy pool, managed by relevant commissioning bodies. Others advocated for a more accessible approach that would benefit smaller third-sector organizations not currently receiving direct levy funding.
Acknowledging the potential unpopularity of its decision, the commission conceded that it would not have broad support among those who previously benefited from regulatory settlement funding. However, the commission justified its decision by stating that, in light of limited alternatives and the absence of a coordinated central body to manage these funds, routing them to the consolidated fund represents the most viable option.
The commission also conveyed confidence that the funding generated from the Statutory Levy would adequately support a sustainable and fair funding system for tackling gambling-related harm. Typically, money allocated from the consolidated fund is directed toward public expenditures, which includes financing everyday public services, maintaining government operations, and servicing national debt.
Criticism has emerged around OHID’s approach to distributing levy funding, particularly concerning the prioritization of resources to organizations outside of the gambling sector. Researchers voiced their worries during a parliamentary health committee session in April 2025, suggesting that past funding allocations had been unduly influenced by the gambling industry prior to the implementation of the Statutory Levy later that same year. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) reported that allocations under the levy would see 50% directed to treatment, 30% to prevention, and 20% to research.
Nicole Macedo started her career in local newsrooms in Gibraltar and played a crucial role in helping establish the first online-only broadcaster in the region.
