UK Gambling Levy raises $160.6m in first year of new regulation

Throughout the first year of implementing new requirements to its Gambling Levy Programme, the UK Government unveiled funding reached nearly £120m ($160.6m), split between gambling-related harm research, prevention and treatment.

"The statutory gambling levy represents a generational change to funding arrangements and a significant transformation in the government's commitment to strengthening efforts to understand, tackle and treat gambling-related harm," the UK Government stated within its release.

"The statutory levy commenced in April 2025, and commissioners have started to communicate how funding will flow across the system."

Under the terms of the new Levy Programme, operators are required to pay into the fund by October of each year, which is then collected and administered by the Gambling Commission under the strategic direction of the UK Government.

Within the Levy's previous terms, operators were required to submit annual financial contributions to organisations which either produced or supported research, education or treatment of gambling-related harms.

The UK Government would eventually introduce a new statutory levy following a consultation period that ran between 17 October to 14 December 2023, as well as a subsequent analysis of responses to the consultation.

Of the $160.6m raised in the first year of the new Statutory Levy Programme, 20% will go to the UK Research and Innovation group to establish a bespoke Research Programme on Gambling.

30% will be issued to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and Scottish and Welsh Governments to develop a "comprehensive approach" to the prevention and early intervention of gambling-related harm.

The remaining half of Levy funding will go to NHS England and Scottish and Welsh Governments for treatment and support services, including a collaborative effort made with all providers to ensure the services remain consistent.

Each of the three funding streams also maintains its own lead commissioning body to guarantee "long-term sustainability and effectiveness" of the statutory levy system.