UKGC awards £8m in regulatory settlements to treatment providers in 2019
Regulator targets “transparency” by publishing combined list of confirmed funding projects for first time
The Gambling Commission (UKGC) paid over £8m of regulatory settlements levied on operators to gambling-related harm treatment services and charities during 2019, it has confirmed.
The UKGC has not previously published a combined list of the funding destinations of these types of settlements but confirmed to EGR that it now plans to do so on an annual basis with the aim of improving transparency.
The Gambling Research Exchange received the largest portion – a total of £1.9m in funding during 2019.
The commission has confirmed these funds are being used to create a new research dissemination hub, as provided for under the national strategy for the reduction of gambling-related harms.
Penal reform group The Howard League was given just over £1.8m, primarily to fund the large-scale Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling.
Healthcare organisation The Hurley Group, which works in conjunction with the NHS in a range of primary care related services, received £1,562,184. This has been allocated to a pilot project designed to explore the design and delivery of an NHS-based and integrated community-based service for people experiencing gambling-related harm.
Other organisations that received funding last year included the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, The Samaritans, Gordon Moody and the Money and the Mental Health Policy Institute.
National treatment service GamCare received £551,813 in settlement funding, with that being used to develop data analysis of the national gambling helpline and the development of a website to support the GamCare Safer Gambling Standard.
Regulatory settlements are paid when the UKGC takes regulatory action against an operator for breaching LCCP codes and when the outcome of the action could potentially include the payment of a fine. The operator involved can make the regulatory settlement in lieu of paying a financial penalty.
The UKGC has the power to approve the destination of payment for socially responsible purposes, including charities and treatment services dealing with gambling-related harm.