OHID allocates more than £39m in gambling-harm levy grants
Regulation1 min read
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has allocated more than £39m from the statutory gambling-harm levy to grant recipients in Britain. Gambling With Lives received £1.8m and its Chapter One initiative received £3m; the funding has drawn criticism from some industry figures because of the organisation’s advocacy work.
More than £39m from the statutory gambling-harm levy has been earmarked for recipients announced by the British government. Gambling With Lives is among the recipients, and its inclusion has upset some industry figures. OHID has awarded GWL £1.8m.
The organisation's Chapter One gambling-harm education service received £3m, bringing its total to close to £5m. Gambling With Lives provides support and treatment to families bereaved by suicide and campaigns for changes to gambling law.
GamCare, which runs the National Gambling Helpline, received £4m. Gambling Harm UK received £1.2m, while education organisation YGAM was awarded £3m. Among gambling-blocking software providers, BetBlocker received £1.1m and Gamban £2.7m.
Gamban was excluded from the first tranche of grants, worth £25m, in April. It subsequently adopted paid subscriptions in England and Wales but has returned to a free service in both countries.
GWL's grant drew criticism from gambling compliance consultant Nigel Harvey, who accused it of using the money to advance an aim of destroying gambling. Harvey said he was not opposed to the levy and praised other recipients for their work helping people affected by gambling harm.