GambleAware receives £49.5m in voluntary donations in 2023/24

GambleAware has announced that it received a total £49.5m in voluntary donations in 2023/24.

Of this, 94% came from the largest four gambling operators in Britain, who donated a total of £46.6m. This represents an increase of £3.1m from the previous year’s contributions of £43.5m from these operators.

The amount goes towards the organisation’s continuing commissioning work including public health campaigns, education and training programmes, harm prevention tools, treatment services and research. 

Zoë Osmond, GambleAware CEO, said: “While we await the implementation of the new statutory levy, donations from the voluntary funding system are key to ensure GambleAware can continue to deliver the essential gambling harm prevention and treatment programmes we commission.”

GambleAware described voluntary donations as essential for its continuing commissioning work. 

The charity added the gambling industry “should be held accountable to contribute financially to the vital services that prevent gambling harms”, stating that this is why it has consistently advocated for a statutory levy.

Until the implementation of the statutory levy, gambling operator funding remains the primary source of funding for research, prevention and treatment. 

Meanwhile, the charity highlighted that despite the donations received, as an independent charity, GambleAware has an “extremely robust system” of governance processes in place, adding that the gambling industry has “absolutely no input, influence or authority” over any of its activity.  

“For many years we have been calling for the introduction of a statutory levy on the gambling industry and we are pleased the Government has committed to delivering this as part of the Gambling White Paper,” added Osmond.

“However, during the transition period it is vital that steps continue to be taken to ensure there is no disruption to existing services and provisions in the wider system as they adapt to the new levy funding model.”

GambleAware’s work includes commissioning the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN) and the National Gambling Helpline which takes around 52,000 calls and online chats a year. 

Funding is also used to enable GambleAware to commission research and evaluation to increase knowledge and understanding of the prevention of gambling harm, as well as reducing stigma associated with gambling harm, for public health campaigns, and for providing support, advice, and tools to help people make informed decisions about gambling.

The voluntary donations received in 2023/24 mark the last year of a four year commitment made in 2020 by the largest four operators to gradually increase the percentage of Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) donated as RET from 0.25% in 2019/20 to 1% in 2023/24.