GambleAware plans to cease operations on 31 March 2026, with its work transferring to the UK government and new commissioners in England, Scotland and Wales. The charity said it will continue existing commission agreements until the new system is operational in April 2026.
The transition will change who delivers gambling-harm prevention and treatment work across Great Britain.
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UK minister for gambling Baroness Twycross said the government intends to support the gambling sector while pursuing reforms to improve consumer protection. At the Gambling Reform Summit, she said independent oversight would guide statutory levy funding and that governance arrangements would hold the responsible commissioners to account during the transition to the new system.
The UK Gambling Commission has decided that funds from regulatory settlements with operators will go to the Consolidated Fund, with the change taking immediate effect. The Commission said the statutory levy introduced in April 2025, which raises about £100m annually, now funds research, prevention and treatment programmes; it said settlement payments are too variable to support long-term projects.
Reportedly, the New South Wales government has increased GambleAware funding by $1.3m. The money aims to strengthen peer support and frontline help, with service locations expected to increase by 44%.
New South Wales is adding $1.3 million to its GambleAware support network, with services due to expand into 15 regional locations, according to the report. The expansion will increase the network from 34 to 49 hubs, while five additional peer-support positions will bring the total to 16. The report says the funding forms part of a $20.7 million Responsible Gambling Fund commitment for 2025-26.
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.