GambleAware to double annual spending to £16m
CEO says industry has failed to meet funding targets and must “step-up its contributions”
GambleAware has announced its strategic delivery plan for 2018-20, revealing that it will double its annual spending to £16m over the next two years.
Funding will be divided between the areas of research and evaluation, which will receive £9.8m over the next two years, education which will receive £5.6m and treatment, which will get the bulk of the funding, receiving £14.3m over the two-year period.
Marc Etches, CEO of GambleAware, said more needed to be done to make sure people were able to receive the help and support they needed.
Etches added: “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.”
This new level of expenditure exceeds the £10m minimum target for voluntary donations agreed with the Gambling Commission and the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board. It also accounts for the receipt of extra income from ‘regulatory settlements’, and payments to good causes, which were agreed between gambling companies and the regulator.
GambleAware also confirmed it aims to “deliver prevention at a far greater scale than ever before” stating that it will soon be announcing collaborations with new partners in England, Scotland and Wales over the next few weeks.
In addition to this, funds will be put towards new initiatives including the development of a knowledge hub which comprises eLearning, digital downloads and targeted guidance designed to help educators and others working with younger audiences.
Other initiatives to receive funding boosts include the extension of access for treatment beyond London and the development of focussed education campaigns and initiatives targeting vulnerable groups, operators, sports teams, social media platforms and public-sector groups such as GPs and debt advisors.
Etches added: “We all have a responsibility to try and help those who may be struggling with a gambling addiction. We look forward to seeing the industry, broadcasters, advertisers and sports groups do their part to help prevent gambling related harm and work to raise awareness of the help and advice that is available at BeGambleAware.org.”