UK Government Introduces Emergency Funding Boost for Gambling Harm Services

The UK government has introduced a last-minute funding initiative to support gambling harms organisations that were not allocated money through the statutory levy.

Eligible organisations have until the end of April to apply for support from the Gambling Levy Transition Fund, which will be distributed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on a pro-rata basis.

Funding will commence from April 1 and run for three months. Organisations approved after this date will be able to backdate claims to the beginning of April. Payments for successful applicants will typically be made in arrears, following submission of a valid grant claim at the end of June.

‘Targeted’ support

The DCMS said it “rapidly established” the scheme to provide “immediate, targeted, time-limited financial support” and prevent any disruption in funding across the gambling harms sector.

“Tight time frames for commissioning processes and decisions created the risk of a funding gap,” the government stated.

“This may have put vulnerable service users or beneficiary groups of organisations previously funded under the voluntary system at risk.”

Funding eligibility criteria

To qualify, applicants must have received funding through the industry-led voluntary system between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026, and be able to evidence this support.

They must also demonstrate that they were delivering “relevant activity” in March 2026 “in support of service users and/or beneficiary groups in England who may be affected by the period of transition.”

Additionally, organisations must have applied for funding via the Gambling Harms Prevention VCSE Grant Fund and/or the Gambling Harms Treatment VCSE Grant Fund, with their application(s) “entirely rejected.”

Applicants may submit requests before receiving a final decision on treatment funding applications. However, the DCMS will only assess those that are ultimately unsuccessful.

Organisations already receiving funding for the same services from other sources will not be permitted to claim duplicate costs through the Transition Fund.

Sector transition

“The transition from the previous voluntary, industry-funded arrangements to the new statutory gambling levy is likely to result in changes to the existing delivery landscape,” the DCMS added.

“It is the intention of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to ensure that there is an effective transition between these arrangements, ensuring service users and beneficiary groups are not negatively affected by this period of change.”

In cases where organisations cannot claim due to insufficient unrestricted reserves, the DCMS confirmed it will “consider making a payment at point of need where there is relevant evidence to justify such a payment.”