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Guidance

Advice to the Gambling Commission on a statutory levy

A paper by the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling advising the Gambling Commission on a statutory levy

Published
1 September 2020

Last updated
19 August 2021 - Changes

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  1. Contents
  2. Section 1: Introduction

Section 1: Introduction

This paper sets out advice from the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG) on the case for a statutory levy1. ABSG previously outlined its support for a statutory levy to enable the delivery of effective prevention and treatment of gambling harms across Great Britain2.

This advice reiterates our view that a statutory levy is the most effective option to fund activity to reduce gambling harms. It outlines why a statutory levy is necessary, the evidence supporting this, and the type of levy required. We also discuss challenges of implementation and recommends transitional options to ensure continuity of treatment support and investment in prevention and independent research whilst the mechanics of a levy are established.

A levy would help accelerate progress in delivering the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms. Key priorities are identified in our Progress Report on the Strategy published in June 20203. We welcome the endorsements in favour of a statutory levy which have emerged this year, notably in reports from the All Parliamentary Group on Gambling-Related Harm and House of Lords Select Committee on the Social and Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry4.

The paper is structured as follows:

  • Section 2 – provides background context
  • Section 3 – sets out the case for change
  • Section 4 – outlines benefits that a statutory levy could help achieve
  • Section 5 – explains challenges to implementation
  • Section 6 – considers short-term enablers of change
  • Section 7 – provides conclusions.

References

1 In November 2019, the Gambling Commission asked ABSG for their advice on the case for a statutory levy. A first draft of this advice was submitted in January 2020. In July 2020, the Gambling Commission asked ABSG to review the draft in light of recent developments – including the Covid-19 pandemic and parliamentary reports on gambling from the House of Lords, the All Parliamentary Group on Gambling-Related Harm and the Public Accounts Committee.

2 (Page 26) Two years on: progress delivering the National Responsible Gambling Strategy (PDF), Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, May 2018. (Page 3) The Responsible Gambling Strategy Board’s advice on the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms 2019-2022 (PDF), Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, February 2019

3 Progress report, Advisory Board for Safer Gambling, June 2020

4 Online Gambling Harm Inquiry – Interim Report, Report from the Gambling Related Harm All-Party Parliamentary Group (opens in new tab), November 2019

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Advice to the Gambling Commission on a statutory levy: Background
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