Discussions

Now that the new system to fund gambling charities is officially in place in the UK, will that prove a solid positive for the sector, or is a bit of convincing still needed to justify the decision?

For those unaware of how gambling harm funding works in the UK, it used to be that voluntary contributions from operators were given to GambleAware, which would commission the funds to charities across the whole of the UK.

However, with GambleAware closing down, this is now history thanks to recommendations made in the 2005 Gambling Act Review White Paper, which mandated a statutory Prevention, Treatment and Research levy to raise £100m annually.

With 50% of the funds allocated to treatment and commissioned by the NHS, and 20% going for research and handled by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), 30% is left for prevention, which is the money meant to go to gambling charities.

This stream, while previously commissioned by GambleAware, is now handled by the Office for Health Improvement and..

In 2026 and beyond, the EU and its regulatory bodies will prioritise “safety by design” of online environments. Legal expert Claire Pinson-Bessonnet anticipates an inevitable collision with Big Tech over its doctrine of “algorithmic control.”

It is long established that Brussels will not follow US courts with regards to the European Union’s (EU) governance of tech giants.

Yet in both continents, sensitivities are rising on the accountability of tech’s biggest platforms to manage their online environments and keep audiences safe from growing risks and harmful content.

Claire Pinson-Bessonnet

In 2026, political attention will turn to the architecture and design of environments brought in by the biggest tech firms, in which liabilities point towards an unavoidable confrontation.

Whether in Brussels or Washington, regulators are beginning to probe the protections offered by tech giants of audiences on their platforms, and how consumer engagements are determined by algorithms designe..