Glasgow City Council has received a grant of over £3.44 million set to extend its efforts against gambling-related harm over the next three years. This funding, sourced from the industry’s statutory levy, aims to bolster “The Glasgow Project,” which builds on existing initiatives focused on combating gambling impacts in the city.
The funding will enhance prevention programs in schools and youth services, specifically targeting young individuals grappling with gambling-related debts. Additionally, there are plans for training across health, community, and public service sectors, as well as targeted investments in three neighborhoods with the highest concentration of betting outlets.
For the 2026-27 period, priorities include hiring more staff for the prevention team, revitalizing partnerships among various agencies, and establishing a specialized financial inclusion service to assist affected individuals.
A report from Glasgow City Council’s Wellbeing, Equalities, Communities, Culture and Engagement City Policy Committee revealed that the cost of gambling-related harms in Glasgow exceeds £15 million annually, the highest figure in Scotland. The report also indicated that approximately 42% of betting shops in Glasgow are located in the city’s most deprived areas.
The project receives its funding from the statutory levy, implemented in April 2025. This levy is expected to generate around £100 million each year, which will support research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related issues. It replaced an earlier voluntary funding system, with the Gambling Commission now overseeing collection efforts under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
The DCMS has already allocated £25.4 million from the levy to 33 voluntary, community, and social enterprise organizations throughout England, a program also financed through this operator levy.
Glasgow's funding is part of broader efforts to address gambling harm with community-driven public health initiatives. In January 2025, Public Health Scotland released a study mapping Glasgow's support network and identifying risk factors linked to gambling harms, recognizing these as a public health issue. Similarly, in July, Public Health Wales unveiled a two-year initiative aiming to combat gambling-related harms throughout Wales, targeting community organizations and overseen by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action.
