GambleAware to cease operations as statutory levy transition continues
Summary
GambleAware will stop all activities and transfer responsibility for gambling-harms prevention, research and treatment to government bodies and newly appointed commissioners by 31 March 2026. The move follows the introduction of a statutory levy designed to raise around £100 million for gambling-harms work, collected as a percentage of industry gross gambling yield. GambleAware has supported the levy and will continue to honour existing commissioning agreements while the new public-health-led system is established across England, Scotland and Wales.
Source
Key Points
- • GambleAware will formally wind down operations and hand over its role by 31 March 2026.
- • The change follows the UK government’s introduction of a statutory levy, first announced in November 2024, meant to raise about £100 million for gambling-harms prevention.
- • Levy rates will vary by sector and product, ranging from roughly 0.1% to 1.1% of gross gambling yield.
- • Three new commissioners for gambling harms research, prevention and treatment have been appointed to take over responsibilities across England, Scotland and Wales.
- • GambleAware says it will fulfil existing contracts and keep critical prevention resources available during the managed closure.
- • The government has praised GambleAware’s contribution and emphasised that maintaining service continuity during the transition is a priority.
Context and relevance
This is a major structural shift in how gambling-harms work is funded and delivered in Britain: responsibility moves from a charity-led model to a statutory, public-health-led system. For operators, regulators and treatment providers this alters funding flows, accountability and commissioning arrangements. The levy is part of broader gambling reform set out in the Gambling Act white paper and signals a long-term public-health approach to gambling harm.
Why should I read this?
Because this actually matters. If you work in regulation, healthcare, the gambling industry or support services, the cash, contracts and who calls the shots are changing. GambleAware helped build the current system — now the government is taking it on. Read this to know how funding and service delivery will shift, and what that means for continuity of care and industry obligations.
Author note
By Robert Fletcher: Punchy and important — GambleAware’s managed closure marks the end of one era and the start of a statutory system that will reshape gambling-harms policy and funding across the UK. If you need to plan for commissioning, compliance or treatment pathways, this is a development to act on now.