본문 : DOT ESPORTS - Rijit Banerjee

Central funding to curb the harms of unsafe gambling.

Photo by Lina Kivaka via Pexels

GambleAware, the U.K.’s leading charity for gambling harm prevention and treatment, will shut down by March 2026 as the government replaces the industry’s voluntary funding model with a mandatory statutory levy.

In April 2023, the U.K. government released its long-awaited Gambling White Paper, proposing a mandatory levy to ensure sustainable, independent funding for gambling harm efforts. “We have advocated for the introduction of a statutory system for many years,” Andy Boucher, chair at GambleAware, said.

Esports betting sparks youth gambling fears. Photo by Joe Brady via Riot Games

Under the new system, all licensed gambling operators are now required to contribute a percentage of their gross gambling yield, with higher rates imposed on online platforms and software suppliers. The statutory levy officially took effect on April 6, 2025, with the first payments due later this year.

“The new levy system will build on the successes of the current system to improve and expand efforts to further understand, tackle and treat harmful gambling,” Baroness Twycross, Gambling and Heritage and Lords Minister, said. 

The move marks a major shift in how the country tackles gambling-related harm, with public health agencies like the NHS and U.K. Research & Innovation set to take the lead. NHS England will oversee treatment services, and U.K. Research & Innovation (UKRI) will lead academic research, with similar structures in Wales and Scotland.

Recently, the U.K.’s Gambling Reform APPG launched an inquiry into the future of gambling laws and oversight as the country shifts to a statutory levy and prepares for the closure of GambleAware. This marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s approach to gambling harm.

Many see this as a chance to modernise gambling harm reduction, especially as gambling increasingly overlaps with digital entertainment. In particular, the rise of esports betting, skin gambling, and loot boxes has raised concerns that younger audiences may be especially vulnerable. 

While GambleAware’s closure marks the end of an era, the new levy system opens the door to broader, more future-facing protections. Such protections could finally bring esports and online gaming into the wider conversation on gambling harm.