Key points:
- The UK Government has appointed OHID as the Prevention Commissioner for Gambling Harms
- GambleAware has welcomed the move, emphasising the need for a structured and collaborative system to address gambling-related harm
- The appointment follows recent calls for stricter regulations on high-risk gambling products and the introduction of a mandatory gambling levy
The UK Government has named the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) as the new Prevention Commissioner for Gambling Harms, marking a shift towards a statutory approach to tackling gambling-related issues.
GambleAware has welcomed the appointment. CEO Zoë Osmond OBE and Chair of Trustees Prof. Siân Griffiths CBE highlighted the importance of a government-led initiative in addressing gambling-related harm, which they describe as a serious public health issue.
GambleAware emphasised its long-standing advocacy for a statutory framework and expressed pride in its contributions to harm prevention; the organisation pledged to collaborate with OHID and the other newly appointed commissioners to ensure a smooth transition into the new system.
A Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) spokesperson commented on the announcement: “The BGC supported plans outlined in the White Paper to introduce a mandatory levy to fund Research, Prevention and Treatment, as long as it was independent, protects longstanding, expert providers of RPT in the third sector and is tiered to protect land-based operators.
“Given OHID’s previous flawed report on gambling in 2023 it is essential the Levy Board has strict oversight of OHID and these significant funds, including enforcing a clear set of protocols to ensure transparency, a programme of evaluation plus a regime of external auditing.
“BGC members and licensed operators voluntarily contributed over £170m over the last four years to tackle problem gambling and gambling related harm, including £50m in 2024, funding an independent network of charities currently caring for 85 per cent of all problem gamblers receiving treatment in Britain.
“Ministers must not lose sight of the fact that the vast majority of the 22.5m people who enjoy a bet each month, on the lottery, in bookmakers, casinos, bingo halls and online, do so safely, while the most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that just 0.4 per cent of the adult population are problem gamblers.”
The appointment of OHID comes amid broader discussions about gambling regulation in the UK. A recent GambleAware report, published in January 2025, identified high-risk gambling products such as electronic gaming machines, online casino games and loot boxes.
Good to know: The recent GambleAware report called for enhanced consumer protections, including stricter regulations, lower stake limits and additional safeguards for online gambling
This latest development follows the UK Government’s introduction of a mandatory gambling levy, expected to generate £100m annually for harm prevention.
While the levy represents progress in funding support services, concerns remain over whether the measures outlined in the Government’s Gambling White Paper go far enough in protecting consumers.
