GambleAware will officially cease operations as the industry’s research, education and treatment (RET) sector manages its transition towards the statutory levy.
The charity’s final day of operating is Tuesday, 31 March, after first announcing its closure in July 2025.
The organisation was initially founded in 2002. It served as the commissioning body under the former voluntary levy model and rose to the forefront as the preeminent gambling-related harm entity in the UK.
The GambleAware Support Tool officially closed down on 9 February in preparation for the organisation’s closure.
Posting on LinkedIn regarding its closure, the charity wrote of its lasting legacy of “a commitment to positive behavioural change”.
The statement read: “As we draw closer to GambleAware’s official closure on the 31 March, we’re left with a profound sense of pride and gratitude for what we’ve achieved together in the sector.
“A mission is only as valuable as the people behind it, and we feel immensely privileged to have partnered with such talented, dedicated teams.
“Thank you all service providers, particularly the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN) for delivering such quality care across the country.
“We’d also like to thank the lived experience community who trusted us to campaign alongside them, our incredible staff and partners who remained dedicated to the very end, and our board who provided expert counsel through this final chapter – your guidance and resilience has left a long-lasting impact.
“We leave behind a legacy defined by a commitment to positive behavioural change. We are confident that commissioners and service providers will maintain continuity, further strengthen the system of support, and ensure those affected by gambling harms continue to receive high-quality, evidence-based services in the long term.”
The Gambling Commission (GC) confirmed that levy commissioner the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) will takeover the management of the GambleAware website and keep it running until 2027.
A GC statement noted: “To support a smooth transition to the new levy system and ensure those at risk of or who are experiencing gambling harms can continue to access tools and support, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) – as prevention commissioner under the levy – will take ownership of the GambleAware website.
“The OHID will keep the GambleAware website temporarily live when GambleAware ceases operations on 31 March 2026.
“This will be for a period of at least 12 months (until at least March 2027) as OHID intends to transition from the GambleAware website to a newly developed digital prevention offer, funded via the levy, in the future.”
The statutory levy will see UK operators part with up to 1.1% of gross gaming yield (GGY), with the OHID then responsible for distributing the funding.
Earlier this month, EGR exclusively revealed that several RET organisations didn’t receive funding from OHID, leaving many with the threat of closure and redundancies.
BetBlocker was later confirmed as one organisation to receive a portion of the £25m worth of funding, alongside the likes of The RCA Trust, Public Health Scotland and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The process operates on a devolved basis.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) later established a Gambling Levy Transition Fund to support RET organisations facing the threat of closure.
The post GambleAware officially shutters operations amid RET uncertainty first appeared on EGR Intel.
Charity to close its doors today, 31 March, although the site will stay live until 2027 as OHID manages transition
The post GambleAware officially shutters operations amid RET uncertainty first appeared on EGR Intel.