The UK national press today was full of news that the government is poised to levy millions from the UK gambling industry to fund education and treatment for vulnerable players.
The common theme is for a £100m levy per year for research and treatment and it will be confirmed "this week."
The plan is to adopt the previous government’s scheme to remove the voluntary contributions that the industry makes towards alleviating gambling harm and replace it with a compulsory levy.
Baroness Twycross, the gambling minister, is said to be ready to announce the plans as early as today, with the levy taking effect from next April.
The compulsory levy would comprise one per cent of gambling companies’ gross gambling yield.
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has confirmed that the levy will be adopted. It has also confirmed that online slot stake limits of £5 for over 25s and £2 for young adults aged 18-24 will come in.
The compulsory levy will increase the voluntary contribution from the AGCs and bingo clubs to 0.2 per cent, up from 0.1 per cent.
For casinos and licensed betting offices the levy moves from 0.4 per cent to 0.5 per cent and for online gambling from one per cent up to 1.1 per cent.
