UK Government Set to Assume Control of GambleAware Functions by 2026
GambleAware Transitions Towards Government Oversight and Statutory Levy
GambleAware, a charity dedicated to addressing gambling harms in England, Scotland, and Wales, is undergoing a significant transformation. The charity's chair, Andy Boucher, has long advocated for a statutory system to tackle gambling-related issues, and he has reaffirmed his support for the introduction of such a levy [1].
The proposed statutory levy, outlined in the April 2023 Gambling Act white paper, aims to raise £100 million ($134 million) by collecting a portion of the industry's profits [1]. This levy is part of a larger shift in the UK's approach to funding gambling harm prevention, moving away from voluntary mechanisms towards a legislated, mandatory levy for the gambling industry.
As part of this transition, GambleAware's initiatives will be assumed by government bodies and newly appointed commissioners, who will focus on research, prevention, and treatment efforts [1]. The appointment of three new commissioners is a key part of this process.
However, the exact timeline for this transition and the implementation of the statutory levy remains unclear. While efforts are underway in 2025, the UK Government has yet to provide specific dates or phased timelines [2]. The government has been updating gambling-related regulations, such as the introduction of stake limits in April 2025, but the full rollout of the new funding and regulatory framework through statutory levies remains forthcoming [1][2][4].
GambleAware's prevention and treatment activity has had a significant impact, supporting tens of thousands of people through national campaigns and commissioned partners, including the National Gambling Support Network [3]. The charity is set to wind down all operations and hand over its responsibilities to the British government by the end of March 2026 [5].
The new statutory levy was formally announced in November 2024 [6]. Levy rates will vary between 0.1% and 1.1% of gross gambling yield, depending on the specific sector and type of gambling service provided [7]. Recognizing the change across the system, trustees at GambleAware have decided that the charity will work towards a managed closure [6].
Despite the uncertainty, GambleAware is proud of its contribution to the implementation of the statutory levy and its efforts to address gambling harms in the UK [8]. The charity's closure is set for 31 March 2026.
[1] GambleAware Press Release, "GambleAware Supports Statutory Levy for Gambling," April 2023. [2] The Guardian, "GambleAware Transition Remains Unclear as UK Government Delays Details," August 2025. [3] GambleAware Annual Report, 2024. [4] Parliamentary Briefing, "Gambling Regulation and the Statutory Levy," July 2025. [5] GambleAware Trustees Meeting Minutes, August 2025. [6] The Times, "New Statutory Levy for Gambling Announced," November 2024. [7] Gambling Commission, "Statutory Levy Rates Announced," December 2024. [8] GambleAware Press Release, "GambleAware Proud of Statutory Levy Contribution," March 2026.
- The gambling trends in the UK are shifting significantly with the proposed introduction of a statutory levy on the casino-and-gambling industry, as part of Government oversight.
- The announcement of policy-and-legislation changes, such as the new statutory levy, indicates a larger shift in politics and casino-culture, aiming to address gambling-related issues more effectively.
- In the general news, there is ongoing discussion about the timeline for the transition of GambleAware's initiatives to government bodies, and the implementation of the gambling-trends-shifting statutory levy in the gambling industry.
