UK Gambling Harms Research Centre to assess efficacy of regulations 

Gambling Commission admits faults but backs credibility of Young People and Gambling Survey

France adds new obligations to sign off gambling ad campaigns 

GAMSTOP says problem gambling awareness is high

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GAMSTOP has highlighted that people in the UK have a generally high knowledge of problem gambling tools at their disposal.

This was noted in the self-exclusion scheme’s latest report on registration activity, which showed more than 600,000 registrations and around 525,000 active self-exclusions from online gambling in the UK. In total, this constituted a growth of 100,000 registrants over the last 11 months.

“Such unprecedented growth in registrations indicates a widespread need for self-exclusion and highlights the crucial role of the gambling harm prevention, education, treatment and support sector,” GAMSTOP wrote on social media.

“We are proud to have formed strong, collaborative relationships with a wide range of organisations to help ensure that we provide signposting to a robust network of support to our service users.”

GAMSTOP further reminded that it will soon start only using active exclusions as a metric as outdated user account information will gradually be archived starting 25 October.

That way, people whose minimum exclusion period expired more than seven years ago will have their personal data stored separately from more fresh data. In comparison, active exclusions will serve as a more accurate representation of problem gambling in the UK, with the current figures of over half a million representing 1% of the adult population.

Generally considered to have one of the best responsible gambling frameworks in Europe, the UK is currently gearing up to implement even more policies to make play safer.

Back in 2023, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) – based on recommendations from the Gambling Act Review White Paper – announced the NHS as the sole commissioner of an annual £100m Research, Education, and Treatment (RET) levy funding, paid by UK operators.

Developed in conjunction with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) to serve as treatment support commissioner, the levy will ensure that the entire UK problem gambling support network will be operated outside of any influence from the gambling sector.

GambleAware, a charity that served as the previous commissioner of voluntary RET donations, has announced that it will close down by March 2026.

September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

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iGaming Daily: Gambling support threatened by suit that could silence 1-800-GAMBLER

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In this episode of iGaming Daily, brought to you by Optimove, Jessica Welman and Charlie Horner, delve into the legal battle surrounding the National US Gambling Support Hotline, 1-800-GAMBLER. At stake is the continued operation of a lifeline for countless Americans struggling with gambling addiction. Managed by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), the…

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Government warned about threat to gambling harm support network after GambleAware closure

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The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has told iGaming Expert that the UK Government’s move to a statutory levy “must not mean handing control to a narrow group of anti-gambling campaigners or creating a publicly funded cottage industry driven by ideology rather than evidence”.

Representing the regulated UK betting and gaming industry, the standards body’s statement comes in response to GambleAware announcing last week that it would undergo a “managed closure” by the end of March next year as a result of the new levy system.

The BGC highlighted the work achieved by GambleAware in providing gambling harm support, before reminding the UK Government that it is important to make sure funding is still made available to services who can offer help to those that need it the most.

A BGC spokesperson said: “GambleAware has played a central role in funding and commissioning independent research, education and treatment for more than two decades, underpinned by the voluntary contributions of the betting and gaming industry.

“This long-standing commitment, unmatched by other sectors, has helped establish and fund services that support thousands of people every year.

“While we campaigned for and support the Government’s decision to move to mandatory contributions, this must not mean handing control to a narrow group of anti-gambling campaigners or creating a publicly funded cottage industry driven by ideology rather than evidence.

“What matters is that funding remains independent, ringfenced and focused on delivering real outcomes for those at risk of harm.”

Industry concerns

Many in the gambling industry have raised concerns about the funding of services once the switch to the statutory levy takes place.

Deal Me Out has written to the Government asking for services to be treated fairly, while GAMSTOP Group highlighted the vital work GambleAware has done and stated that it believes this will continue under the statutory levy, adding that player welfare must be the focal point of all work.

GambleAware’s CEO Zoë Osmond has called on the levy’s Research, Prevention and Treatment Commissioners – the UK Research and Innovation, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, as well as NHS England and relevant bodies in Scotland and Wales – to build on the charity’s work.

Dan Waugh, Partner at Regulus Partners, believes the funding system is not living up to its billing and is creating more uncertainty for gambling harm treatment providers. BetBlocker Founder and Trustee, Duncan Garvie, added that service providers must be protected during the statutory levy transition period

Some of these statements were also echoed by the BGC, calling for any decisions that will be made to be based on facts.

The standards body said: “Industry contributions have totalled over £170m since 2020 alone, supporting NHS clinics, third-sector providers, and national education programmes. BGC members remain unequivocally committed to safer gambling, and to a robust, independent, and evidence-led system.

“The transition to a statutory levy must protect existing expertise, maintain service continuity, and ensure that decisions are based on data, not dogma.”

UK Gov wants ‘smooth and stable transition’

In response to GambleAware’s closure, the UK Government’s Minister for Gambling, Baroness Twycross, praised the charity’s work and the wider third sector, adding that the levy will build on their work and that a smooth transition to the new system is a priority.

“GambleAware and others across the third sector, including the National Gambling Support Network, have worked with tireless commitment over the years to commission and deliver effective services for people experiencing gambling-related harm,” noted Twycross.

“As the new statutory gambling levy system comes into effect, managing a smooth and stable transition is an absolute priority, and we are taking significant steps to maintain service provision. 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.

“I want to thank GambleAware and all their staff for their efforts to support those in need across our country.”

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Dutch party promises more gambling control if elected

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As an election approaches in the Netherlands, gambling is shaping up to be a major talking point for winning the electorate over.

Parties are already putting out their election plans ahead of the October vote, with one of them being centre-right VVD.

Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius/VVD
Led by Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, the party has embedded a promise into its manifesto to increase the powers of Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) – the Dutch gambling authority.

By doing so, the VVD hopes to achieve a more effective approach towards reducing rates of online gambling harm, as well as stricter control over the market and better results when combatting illegal iGaming providers.

Cited by Casinonieuws.nl, the manifesto read: “Online gambling: We are reforming the Remote Gambling Act to combat gambling addiction.

“We give the Gaming Authority more powers to supervise online gambling providers and take enforcement action.

“In consultation with other European member states, there must also be a creative approach to combat illegal gambling companies that is in line with the approach to criminal networks.”

The above falls in line not only with common European interests against the black market, but also with a number of other developments relating to online gambling in the Netherlands.

Legal Protections Secretary Teun Struycken is currently spearheading a list of Remote Gambling Act 2021 (KOA) reforms that already foresee the gambling regulator becoming equipped with more powers. VVD now promises to expedite this process.

The party’s focus on gambling is most likely driven by continuous warnings from the sector that the black market has now reached a concerning size which threatens Dutch consumers.

At the most recent Gaming in Holland conference, Arjan Blok, CEO of the Dutch state lottery, stated that 25% of customers are engaging with unlicensed operators, leading to a loss of €1.3bn.

VVD has clearly heard these concerns. Its manifesto to tackle the black market carries proper weight due to the party’s size. It was one of the four-party coalition governments that fell apart earlier this year, which led to new elections being scheduled for 29 October.

September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

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Dutch regulator clamps down on AML while self-exclusions hit 100k

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The Dutch Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) gambling regulator has cautioned the market that “there is still room for improvement’ regarding adherence to anti-money laundering duties.

After an investigation into three unnamed licensed gaming companies, the KSA determined that all three had violated the terms of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Prevention) Act (Wwft).

Under the Wwft, licensed gaming firms – which hold Dutch licences under the October 2021 KOA Act regulatory regime – are required to monitor player transactions and report unusual transactions to the country’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

After assessing documents such as player files, internal documents on Wwft policy and risk assessments, it seems that the KSA was not satisfied that the three companies in question were meeting these requirements.

The regulator signed off its latest statement with a warning – it has cautioned over licence holders in the Dutch marketplace that subsequent inspections reveal further failures to adhere to AML standards, more severe sanctions like penalties or fines may be imposed.

Dutch gambling feels the pressure
The KSA’s revelation comes amid rising political pressure on the country’s betting and gaming industry, which has grown exponentially since re-regulation in October 2021 under the aforementioned KOA Act.

An initial marketplace of 10 licence holders has since grown to more than 30, and KSA reprimands and at times penalisation of operators for breaching conditions around AML, player protection or advertising are not uncommon.

Advertising in particular has become a contentious issue, with a total ban on sponsorships coming into play in July this year, following on from a ban on the use of ‘role models’ in advertising in 2023.

Many policymakers were concerned that a ‘bombardment’ of advertising in the years after market launch was having negative societal impacts. Figures from the national self-exclusion register, CRUKS, may have partly contributed to this view.

The latest figures, as revealed by CasinoNieuws.nl, show that more than 100,000 people have now self-excluded from the Dutch market. This includes a rising number of people opting for long-term self-exclusion instead of the shortest possible period possible, six months.

Though political pressure on the Dutch market may have temporarily paused ahead of the general election scheduled in October, politicians seem firmly committed to overseeing regulatory reforms, with a particular focus on preventing consumers aged-24 and under from compulsive gambling.

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GambleAware closure labelled ‘a tragedy’ ahead of levy implementation

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The Statutory Levy has been described as causing an ‘exodus of talent’ from the UK’s gambling harm treatment and prevention sector, following news of GambleAware’s closure.

GambleAware stated that as a result of the statutory levy it will undergo a “managed closure” by the end of March 2026. The charity had been acting as the commissioner of gambling harm treatment programmes since its foundation in 2002.

Jordan Lea, Founder of DealMeOut, reacted to the news on LinkedIn, describing GambleAware as the most recognisable, and respected brands to the population, and holds vast, specialised expertise in research, evaluation and commissioning.

He added: “It is an aberration that the implementation of the Statutory levy is causing so many job losses, creating an exodus of talent from our sector.”

What is the statutory levy?

Following changes made by the government, operators in the UK are now required to contribute to a statutory levy to support research, education and treatment (RET), with contributions determined by companies’ gross gambling yield.

As a result, the NHS will now take over from third sector organisations, such as GambleAware, as the main administrator of the treatment and prevention of gambling harms.

Up to £100m per year is expected to be raised by the new levy. 20% of which will go to the Research Commissioner, UK Research and Innovation, to research to establish a bespoke Research Programme on Gambling, as well as the UK Gambling Commission, to direct further research in line with licensing objectives.

The Prevention Commissioner, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), will receive 30% of the levy funding. OHID will develop a comprehensive approach to prevention and early intervention.

Meanwhile, 50% of the levy funding will go to the Treatment Commissioner, NHS England and relevant bodies in Scotland and Wales, who will commission treatment and support services in collaboration with the third sector.

Andy Boucher, Chair of trustees, GambleAware, commented: “The introduction of the new statutory levy and the appointment of the three new commissioners for gambling harms research, prevention and treatment means that, as expected, the work historically delivered by GambleAware will now transition to the UK government and new commissioners across England, Scotland and Wales.

“We have advocated for the introduction of a statutory system for many years and are proud of our contribution to its implementation. Alongside this, we are also proud of the impact GambleAware’s prevention and treatment activity has had in supporting tens of thousands of people over the years, through our national campaigns and our commissioned partners, including the National Gambling Support Network.

“Our main priority continues to be keeping people safe from gambling harm and to ensure stability and continuity for our beneficiaries as the new commissioners take over. The GambleAware website and critical prevention resources continue to provide accessible support for all.”

Building on current progress

Whilst Boucher welcomed the new era, he urged NHS England, OHID, UK Research and Innovation, and the appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales to ‘build upon the current system’s achievements and insights to ensure learnings are carried forward’.

Reacting to the news, the Minister for Gambling Baroness Twycross, who is being charged with leading this new approach to addressing gambling harms, praised the work of GambleAware, and the wider third sector, and promised that the new levy will build on the work of such organisations.

She said: “As the new statutory gambling levy system comes into effect, managing a smooth and stable transition is an absolute priority, and we are taking significant steps to maintain service provision. 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.

“I want to thank GambleAware and all their staff for their efforts to support those in need across our country.”

A crucial junction

GambleAware highlighted the importance of its work in May, revealing that it had witnessed a 50% increase in self-referrals to regional support providers since April 2023.

The figures from the charity revealed that over 110,000 people had accessed some level of support from its National Gambling Support Network (NGSN) since its foundation in April 2023. Brief interventions, typically a short conversation on how to reduce the risk of gambling harm saw a 93% increase.

As a result, this underlines the importance of a smooth transition to the stewardship of gambling harm treatment by the NHS to ensure that those in need get the necessary help.

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September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

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GambleAware to close by March 2026 

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GambleAware has announced that it has begun the process to manage its planned closure by 31 March 2026, due to the UK health ecosystem transitioning to a new statutory framework to combat gambling-related harms.

The decision was formally confirmed by Andy Boucher, Chair of Trustees, who stated that the charity had fulfilled its duties in preparing the UK’s gambling support network to transition to a new public health-led system, managed by NHS commissioners across England, Scotland and Wales.

“The introduction of the new statutory levy and the appointment of the three new commissioners for gambling harms research, prevention and treatment means that, as expected, the work historically delivered by GambleAware will now transition to the UK government,” Boucher said.

“We have advocated for this statutory system for many years and are proud of our contribution to its implementation.”

Since 2017, GambleAware has played a central role in building a harm-reduction system through its commissioning of prevention, treatment and support services, including the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN).

At the close of 2023, DCMS chose the NHS as the lead commissioner for gambling harm services, overseeing the statutory levy under a new framework developed in partnership with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) as commission of treatment support.

The decision was made to ensure that the statutory levy and the wider gambling harms support network would operate independently of influence from the gambling sector — a long-standing criticism directed at GambleAware throughout its existence, and one which the charity consistently refuted.

According to Boucher, GambleAware’s programmes have supported tens of thousands of people annually, while national prevention campaigns have provided tools and advice to millions.

While preparing to close, GambleAware will continue to honour its commissioning agreements through to April 2026 to ensure continuity of services and stability for beneficiaries.

“Our main priority continues to be keeping people safe from gambling harm. The GambleAware website and critical prevention resources will remain available to ensure support remains accessible throughout the transition,” Boucher noted.

“Since 2017, GambleAware has championed the development of a statutory, public health-led system to address gambling harm. We welcome this new era in which gambling harms are recognised alongside other public health issues and are funded through a statutory levy.

GambleAware’s closure was acknowledged by Baroness Twycross, Minister for Gambling, who paid tribute to its legacy of expanding dedicated gambling harm support services within UK communities

“GambleAware and others across the third sector, including the National Gambling Support Network, have worked with tireless commitment over the years. As the new statutory gambling levy system comes into effect, managing a smooth and stable transition is an absolute priority.”

Twycross reiterated that the government would ensure continuity and seek to expand efforts to treat and reduce gambling harms under the new statutory system, which will be funded through a mandatory levy on gambling operators.

“As the new statutory gambling levy system comes into effect, managing a smooth and stable transition is an absolute priority, and we are taking significant steps to maintain service provision.

“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.

“I want to thank GambleAware and all their staff for their efforts to support those in need across our country.”

The news marks a significant turning point in UK gambling policy, with the statutory levy replacing the previous voluntary funding model and establishing a more centralised public health approach to tackling gambling harms.

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September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

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Peru gambling sector unites against Dina’s punitive tax 

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Gambling Licences in Peru are ready to demand a repeal of President Boluarte 1% revenue tax, deemed as an unconstitutional measure, SBC Noticias’ Lucia Gando writes for iGaming Expert.

Tensions are high in Peru, as licensed gambling operators say they are united in their demand for the government to repeal the 1% Selective Consumption Tax (ISC) on wagers — a levy they describe as unconstitutional, anti-competitive and financially unsustainable.

Introduced in February 2024 under Legislative Decree 1644, the tax was pushed through by President Dina Boluarte’s administration as a means to underpin Peru’s newly regulated online gambling framework. The ISC applies a flat 1% charge on the total value of all bets placed including those made using promotional bonuses — regardless of an operator’s licensing status.

For operators holding Peruvian licences, the tax has become a threat to business, as international platforms can offset the tax by passing it onto consumers, domestic firms must absorb the cost directly, eroding margins and distorting competition.

Dina punishes Good Actors…

Industry insiders describe the tax as a blunt instrument that fails to account for the commercial realities of licensed operators. Promotional bonuses a core acquisition and retention tool are now being taxed as though they represent actual turnover.

“Taxing a bonus like real money is the equivalent of charging someone for a prize before they’ve even won,” said one executive involved in the legal campaign to overturn the measure.

Constitutional expert Carlos Fonseca Sarmiento, CEO of Gaming Law Peru, has gone further —branding the tax “openly unconstitutional.” He argues that Decree 1644 breaches Peru’s constitutional principles of equality, legal clarity, and non-confiscatory taxation. Crucially, the decree fails to clearly define the taxable event, making it vulnerable to legal challenge.

MINCETUR has no powers

While the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has defended the ISC as a necessary fiscal tool projecting annual revenues of up to 284 million soles – critics accuse the government of undermining its own regulatory ambitions.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR), tasked with formalising the gambling sector, has seen its work destabilised. Industry voices say the MEF is working at cross-purposes with MINCETUR, penalising compliant businesses while doing little to police unlicensed operators.

“Every step MINCETUR takes to bring order, the MEF seems determined to dismantle,” said Fonseca.

The tension reached new heights last month when Congress voted to amend the tax — excluding promotional wagers and applying the levy only to cash-based bets. The move was welcomed by the industry, but swiftly vetoed by President Boluarte, who warned of a 95% drop in ISC revenues if the changes were passed.

Settlement in Congress

That veto has only hardened the industry’s resolve. Domestic operators are now preparing coordinated legal and constitutional challenges to strike down the tax in its current form. Many are also calling on Congress to override the presidential veto — a move that would require a qualified majority but could signal a decisive policy shift.

Meanwhile, questions remain over whether SUNAT — Peru’s tax authority — has the capacity to enforce the tax across unregulated or foreign platforms, many of which operate beyond its reach. As it stands, critics say compliant firms are being punished for playing by the rules.

All eyes now turn to the upcoming national gambling policy conference in Lima, where the industry is expected to present a united front. With market sustainability, regulatory integrity, and foreign investment on the line, pressure is mounting on the government to rethink its fiscal strategy — or risk watching the sector slip back into the shadows.

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September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

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