GambleAware set to double annual spending

The UK-based charity’s new Strategic Delivery Plan for 2018-20 outlined funding would be used for research and evaluation (£9.8m), education (£5.6m) and treatment (£14.3m).

Currently, GambleAware requires a minimum of £10m ($13m) in funding annually to deliver its responsibilities.

Marc Etches, CEO of GambleAware, said: “With only 2% of problem gamblers receiving treatment, it is clear more needs to be done to make sure people are able to receive the help and support they need.

“The industry has consistently failed to meet its funding target of £10m, and it will need to step-up its contributions in the absence of state involvement, to ensure we are able to deliver this necessary expansion of services in future without relying on what are, in effect, fines for bad behaviour.”

The increase in annual spending will be funded by voluntary donations agreed upon with the UK Gambling Commission as well as the Responsible Gambling Board.

Regulatory settlements will also be used for funding along with payments to good causes, which are funded by gambling companies.

GambleAware plans to announce new partnerships across the UK in the upcoming weeks in an attempt to offer gambling related harm “prevention at a far greater scale than ever before”.

Funding will additionally be spent on the development of a knowledge hub, extending access for multi-disciplinary treatment beyond London, and developing focused educational campaigns. However, raising the £16m could prove difficult.

In April this year, GambleAware’s CEO penned an open later to the gambling industry praising record levels of donations.

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Harrison Sayers

Gambling Writer

Harrison Sayers is a journalist and editorial professional specialising in the gambling and iGaming sector. He began his career at Gambling Insider, where he served first as Editorial Assistant (July 2017 – November 2017) and then as Staff Writer from March 2018 to October 2018, contributing news coverage and industry analysis to both the publication’s digital and print channels.

Since then, he has continued his career in gambling regulation and compliance journalism, working with GamblingCompliance and VIXIO where he covers regulatory issues and industry developments across European and African jurisdictions.

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