The Charity Commission closed its case into GambleAware without criticism or findings against the charity, the commission said. It had opened the case after a complaint alleged conflicts of interest linked to industry funding and questioned GambleAware’s regulatory duties and information on gambling harms.
The outcome resolves the commission’s case concerning GambleAware’s governance and industry funding.
The day’s most important stories, free. One email a day.
NHS England notified applicants of its gambling-harm treatment funding decisions on 31 March, shortly before the statutory levy began on 1 April, according to reports. Five established charities were rejected and two accepted, while a government stabilisation fund is intended to give unsuccessful applicants three additional months to continue operating or transition services.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has introduced temporary grants for charities affected by the transition to the statutory gambling levy. The scheme runs from 1 April to 1 June, with applications closing on 30 April; eligible organisations must have delivered relevant services in March 2026 and failed to secure specified grant funding.
The Gambling Lived Experience Network (GLEN) raised concerns about uncertainty for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations after England’s first prevention-funding decisions under the new gambling levy. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities notified applicants 13 days before the funding period begins, leaving some organisations facing decisions about continuing or closing services. GLEN said gaps could emerge if existing service capacity is not maintained.
GambleAware has published a final legacy report ahead of its planned closure next month. It described its work commissioning gambling harm research, education and treatment through voluntary industry contributions, and warned of risks as responsibility shifts to statutory bodies. NHS England was selected to oversee treatment funding, while OHID and UKRI will take on prevention and research funding, respectively.
Wolverhampton City Council opened a consultation on a proposed four-year Gambling Harm Reduction Strategy, reportedly running until 20 March. The council said 5.3% of the local population is considered at risk of gambling-related harm and 1.2% show signs of problem gambling; 70 people accessed local specialist treatment between 2019 and 2022.