Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the funding for statutory gambling levy harms-related programme from April 2026 on treatment providers; and what specific steps his Department is taking to (a) support those providers with workforce retention, (b) help reduce the potential impact of the time taken to implement that programme and (c) help ensure the quality of treatment.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In April 2025, the new statutory levy on gambling operators came into effect to fund the research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related harm. NHS England and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) are working collaboratively on the development of their respective gambling treatment and prevention programmes in England during this transition period.
To maintain continuity, commissioners are working with GambleAware on a managed transition, which includes the extension of GambleAware’s system stabilisation funding until March 2026, ensuring existing charities can continue to support people seeking help.
National Health Service regional gambling services currently receive over 1,000 referrals each quarter, with plans to extend capacity.
NHS England is working at pace to develop a grant funding scheme for voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) treatment and support services. This will ensure that that those affected by gambling-related harms can continue to access much-needed third sector services, whilst integrated care boards look to implement longer-term commissioning arrangements.
Ultimately, the shift to NHS and VCSE gambling harms services having a shared commissioner will allow for improved access to services, greater integration of pathways, and better data sharing, positively impacting patient care.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement UIN HCWS1118, of 2 December 2025, and the transition to the statutory gambling levy system and consequential changes in April 2026, what steps he is taking to safeguard charities providing gambling harm reduction and treatment.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In April, the new statutory levy on gambling operators came into effect to fund the research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related harm. NHS England and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) are working collaboratively on the development of their respective gambling treatment and prevention programmes in England during this transition period.
To maintain continuity, commissioners are working with GambleAware on a managed transition, which includes the extension of GambleAware’s system stabilisation funding until March 2026, ensuring existing charities can continue to support people seeking help.
In January 2026, OHID will formally launch its Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Gambling Harms Prevention and Resilience grant for those voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations wishing to deliver prevention activity over the next two years, following a market engagement process which will end in the new year. Funding will be released from April 2026.
National Health Service regional gambling services currently receive over 1,000 referrals each quarter, with plans to extend capacity. NHS England intends to run a grant funding scheme for voluntary, community, and social enterprise treatment and support services. This will ensure that those affected by gambling-related harms can continue to access much-needed third sector services, whilst integrated care boards look to implement longer-term commissioning arrangements.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for what reason employment and wage costs have increased at the Gambling Commission since April 2017.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Since April 2017, the Gambling Commission’s headcount has increased to maintain its capacity and capability to regulate a growing sector, which is subject to heightened public scrutiny. The Commission has also, like other public bodies, awarded its staff inflationary pay increases which are consistent with the Civil Service Pay Remit. Costs have also increased due to higher statutory pension and National Insurance contributions.
Other factors which have created an increase in employment costs include the Fourth National Lottery Licence competition and transition, and the Commission's delivery of commitments from the 2023 Gambling White Paper
In recent years the Commission has also increased its investment in enforcement and intelligence to tackle illegal gambling, and strengthened its anti-money laundering and sports betting integrity functions.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the Problem Gambling Severity Index score for players of (a) The National Lottery, (b) Society Lotteries, and (c) instant win scratch cards.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to tackling gambling-related harm. DCMS regularly reviews the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) from the Gambling Commission’s Gambling Survey of Great Britain and uses it as one of a range of sources of evidence.
In 2024, the proportion of National Lottery players who experienced ‘problem gambling’ (a PGSI score of 8+) is 3.9% for draw games, 9.5% for instant win games, and 7.9% for scratchcards.
The rate of Society Lottery PGSI 8+ scores is 4.9%.
The rate of non-National Lottery scratchcards PGSI 8+ is 14.5%.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the difference between (a) harm caused by gambling and (b) harm associated with gambling; and if she will set out which of these measures is the policy objective of her department when it comes to gambling policy.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is acutely aware of the impact that harmful gambling can have on individuals, their families and communities, and we are committed to strengthening protections to safeguard those at risk of both harm caused by, and associated with, gambling.
Asked by: Sonia Kumar (Labour - Dudley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people who suffer from severe gambling addiction receive prompt treatment.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
National Health Services receive over 1,000 referrals for gambling addition each quarter, with plans to expand capacity.
In April, the new statutory levy on gambling operators came into effect to fund the research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related harm. NHS England and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities are working collaboratively on the development of their respective gambling treatment and prevention programmes during this transition year.
The availability of levy funding will enable oversight and consistency across NHS and voluntary, community, and social enterprise provision, and the expansion of available capacity.
NHS England continues to work at pace to take on commissioning responsibility for the full treatment pathway in England, from referral and triage through to aftercare. Evidence- based commissioning decisions will be made to ensure optimal treatment modalities.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to betting and gaming levies on illegal gambling operations in the UK.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Estimates suggest the illegal market is relatively small in the UK, between 2 – 9% of legal online market stakes. The Gambling Commission is already tackling this risk and protecting consumers, but we recognise that modern technology makes it easier for illegal websites to target consumers. To further secure the legitimate market and protect consumers from illegal sites, at Budget 2025, the government announced an additional £26 million of funding over the next three years for the Gambling Commission to strengthen enforcement and tackle illegal gambling.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the regulation of gambling sponsorship and marketing in grassroots football.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We currently have no plans to review gambling sponsorship in grassroots football. However, the government is clear that wherever gambling advertising and sponsorship appears, it must be socially responsible.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the prevalence of gambling harms at racecourse bookmakers compared to other forms of gambling; and if she will make it her policy to change the rate charged under the statutory gambling levy in line with this.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
DCMS officials engage regularly with the United Council of Racecourse Bookmakers to discuss a range of matters which affect them.
In-person betting on racing - both at racecourses and betting shops more broadly - is associated with one of the lowest risks of scoring 8+ on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) (representing ‘problem gambling’) of all gambling products. According to the latest official statistics that publish specific PGSI data for in-person betting on horse racing, only in-person bingo, scratchcards and lotteries had a lower PGSI 8+ rate. This is reflected in levy rates, with on-course bookmakers charged one of the lowest figures, at 0.2% of Gross Gambling Yield. Levy rates will be reviewed as part of the Government’s formal review of the statutory levy system, which will take place by 2030.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support racecourse bookmakers.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
DCMS officials engage regularly with the United Council of Racecourse Bookmakers to discuss a range of matters which affect them.
In-person betting on racing - both at racecourses and betting shops more broadly - is associated with one of the lowest risks of scoring 8+ on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) (representing ‘problem gambling’) of all gambling products. According to the latest official statistics that publish specific PGSI data for in-person betting on horse racing, only in-person bingo, scratchcards and lotteries had a lower PGSI 8+ rate. This is reflected in levy rates, with on-course bookmakers charged one of the lowest figures, at 0.2% of Gross Gambling Yield. Levy rates will be reviewed as part of the Government’s formal review of the statutory levy system, which will take place by 2030.