Gordon Moody and GamCare called on the UK government to address uncertainty over funding from the statutory gambling levy, according to a joint statement described in the report. The report says treatment providers face a funding deadline of 31 March without clarity on future support.
Funding uncertainty could affect treatment providers’ ability to sustain gambling-harm services.
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Campaigner James Noyes questioned whether the Arts and Humanities Research Council is the right body to commission gambling research under the UK statutory levy. The article says 20% of the levy was allocated to research, amounting to nearly £24m in its first year, while the first funding wave commissioned £18m in grants through UKRI. Noyes warned that funding decisions could attract projects without the necessary policy or specialist expertise.
Noyes doubted that the AHRC is the right body to commission gambling research. UKRI responded to a right of reply email.
The NHS informed applicants of treatment-funding decisions on 31 March, shortly before the statutory gambling levy took effect on 1 April in the UK. Around GBP120m in operator contributions will be divided among research, prevention and treatment, with UKRI, OHID and the NHS responsible for those areas, respectively. Charities reported limited time to adjust and uncertainty about referrals after the decisions.
Romania’s National Office for Gambling opened a €5m funding call on 20 April for projects addressing gambling harm. Applications are due by 11 May, and the regulator expects to announce successful applicants by 28 July, subject to appeals.
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) said on 2 April that providers of event contracts classed as securities or derivatives must meet applicable requirements in Canada. The regulators warned that non-compliance may lead to enforcement action. They said only two CIRO members were then authorised to offer event contracts, subject to limits.
The headline and snippet report that signatories warned a growing gambling black market is putting the lottery funding model under pressure. The available text does not identify the associations or provide further details.
Signatories warned that the lottery principle is coming under pressure because of a growing black market in gambling, according to the report.