Labour leader Keir Starmer is being pressed to enforce a proposed £100m-a-year levy on gambling companies. Advocates warn that delays in implementing this levy could have severe consequences.
Last year, the Conservatives introduced a white paper on gambling reform, but many proposals stalled after Labour’s election win. A critical element yet to be addressed is the statutory levy on gambling revenues, intended to fund research, education, and treatment for problem gambling.
The expected £100m from the levy would be allocated to the NHS, UK Research and Innovation, and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. However, this plan was absent from the recent King’s Speech policy proposals.
Concerns have also arisen about potential conflicts of interest due to connections between senior Labour figures and the betting industry. In an open letter, campaigners, including House of Lords members, urged the government to publish its response to a public consultation and proceed with the legislation.
“For years, the gambling industry has underfunded research and treatment through a voluntary system,” they wrote, stressing the urgent need for a statutory levy. They warned that further delays would harm mental health, damage communities, and ultimately cost lives. Signatories include the Samaritans’ chief executive, eight Lords, academics, and campaign groups.
The issue of gambling-related harm will gain attention as the Gambling Commission releases new data. This data might reveal higher rates of problem gambling than previously estimated. Last November, an experimental survey suggested that 2.5% of the population could be problem gamblers, up from the previous 0.3%.
The commission is also set to release evidence linking gambling to suicide. Proponents of the levy argue that the current system of voluntary donations allows the industry too much control over the funding meant to assist those it profits from.
A government spokesperson reaffirmed their commitment to reducing gambling-related harm, emphasizing plans for responsible gambling and stronger protections.
Some white paper measures are progressing, including capping digital slot machine stakes and testing affordability checks. However, other proposals, like establishing a gambling ombudsman, remain uncertain.
Despite this, Premier League teams will voluntarily remove betting sponsors from the front of shirts starting the season after next.