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<p>The Gambling Commission requires all operators licensed under the Gambling Act
2005 to make a contribution towards the research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related
harm. It does not specify how much this should be, nor which organisations should
be supported.</p><p> </p><p>We considered research, education and treatment as part
of our Review of Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility. The response was published
on 17 May. The Review looked at protections across the gambling industry and support
for those who experience harm, including the arrangements for funding support.</p><p>
</p><p>GambleAware is the leading charity commissioning research, education and treatment,
and currently asks operators to donate 0.1% of their Gross Gambling Yield (GGY). Most
do, with GambleAware receiving £9.4m in 2017/18, up 16% from the previous year. Industry
also made donations to other bodies supporting research, education and treatment,
bringing industry’s collective support for RET to above 0.1% of its GGY.</p><p> </p><p>We
want to see an effective and sustainable voluntary system, with improved coordination
and better understanding of what measures are most effective to ensure future funding
increases will be spent in the most effective way. Our response outlined a number
of initiatives that continue to improve the current system, increasing access to services
and strengthening the evidence base.</p><p>Each year, the Minister for Public Health
writes to PHE setting out the organisation’s strategic remit and priorities for the
next year. For 2018/19, PHE is explicitly committed for the first time to action on
gambling-related harm. As a first step, Government has asked PHE to carry out a review
of the evidence relating to the public health harms of gambling.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government does not consider that introducing a statutory levy is necessary or appropriate
at this stage.</p><p><strong> </strong></p>
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