Preet Kaur Gill MP, Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Edgbaston, welcomes the Government’s introduction of a statutory levy on gambling operators, generating £100 million for the research, prevention, and treatment of gambling harms.
Gambling harms can have a devastating effect on people’s lives. 2.5% of the population are gambling in a severe and harmful way but many more are affected, whether that be family members or gamblers who are experiencing negative consequences but below the clinical threshold.
Under the current voluntary system, not all gambling companies contribute proportionately to research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms, with some operators paying as little as £1 a year. The new mandatory levy will ensure all operators contribute a fair share, and will be applied at proportionate levels depending on the sector and nature of the gambling activity.
Of the new £100m in funding, treatment will be allocated 50% the levy and will be overseen by NHS who will commission a full treatment pathway, from referral and triage through to aftercare. Prevention will be allocated 30% to develop an early intervention approach, and research will get the remaining 20% of funding.
This funding comes as part of a wider package of measures, which includes the introduction of stake limits for online slots. Stake limits will be set at £5 per spin for adults aged 25 and over and £2 per spin for 18-24 year olds. These changes bring online slot games in line with existing restrictions on slot machines in casinos. Indeed, online slots are a higher-risk gambling product, associated with large losses, long sessions, and binge play. However, unlike land-based gaming machines which offer broadly similar games, up until now they have had no statutory stake limits.
Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston said:
“Problem gambling can be devastating for those whose lives it touches, and unfortunately, those numbers are on the rise with NHS Services treating record numbers.
“This new statutory funding for gambling harms, paid for by gambling companies, will be an important boost to the NHS, whilst helping to address the negative impact of gambling harms on places like Birmingham, Edgbaston through prevention and research.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
• The regulations introducing the levy can be found here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2025/9780348267211/pdfs/ukdsi_9780348267211_en.pdf
• The regulations to introduce online stake limits can be found here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2024/9780348266955
• The levy will be charged at a set rate for all holders of a given Gambling Commission licence, ranging from 1.1% to 0.1% of Gross Gambling Yield (GGY), or equivalent, depending on the sector.
• Society lottery operators will pay the levy as a proportion of proceeds retained after good causes and prizes paid out.
• The UK government will formally review the statutory levy system within five years with the first formal review expected by 2030.
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