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  3. What we do

Our role in protecting vulnerable people

We recognise people can have problems with gambling, which can also affect their health and relationships.

We have a responsibility to measure and monitor the proportion of adults with gambling problems in the UK.

Our responsibilities

We work closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) (opens in new tab) and the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling(ABSG) (opens in new tab), to make sure:

  • problem gambling is adequately understood and researched
  • our policies ensure gambling licence holders act responsibly towards their customers.

The ABSG's role is to provide independent advice to the Gambling Commission and DCMS on the strategy and priorities for research education and treatment.

National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms

We lead on the three-year National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms.

It aims to reduce gambling harms by bringing together:

  • health and social care bodies
  • local and national government
  • charities
  • third sector organisations
  • regulators
  • gambling businesses.

The strategy has two priority areas: prevention and education, and treatment and support.

Industry-led research, education and treatment funding

Research, education and treatment work to help people struggling with gambling problems is funded by the gambling industry. All licensed gambling businesses, including society lotteries, are required to make a contribution.

The charity GambleAware (opens in new tab) raises funding and delivers programmes for research, education and treatment, taking account of priorities recommended by AGSB.

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Last updated: 2 February 2021

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