UK’s £120 Million Gambling Levy Delivers First OHID Prevention Grants Amid Sector Turmoil
The UK’s new gambling levy has distributed its first prevention grants through OHID, replacing the previous Gambleaware charity-led system amid sector concerns.Summary
The United Kingdom’s new statutory gambling levy, raising £120 million annually, has begun distributing its first prevention grants through the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID). This marks a significant shift from the previous charity-led model spearheaded by Gambleaware, which ceased operations after a 20-year run. While Betblocker was among the first grant recipients, Gamban, a leading gambling blocking software, was excluded due to its company structure and has moved to a paid subscription model. The transition has faced criticism, with concerns raised about funding decisions, the exclusion of established charities, and the potential loss of vital services. A temporary Gambling Levy Transition Fund was established to provide emergency funding, but the process has been described as flawed by sector experts. OHID is now responsible for commissioning harm prevention services, alongside NHS England for treatment and UK Research and Innovation for research, aiming to address gambling harms with a government-led approach.
(Source：Bitcoin News)