GambleAware has revealed it topped £10m in voluntary donations in a year for the first time.
For the 12 months up to March 31, 2020, a total of £10.05m in funding was provided by the gambling industry to the charity. The funding enables GambleAware to commission a coherent, coordinated and efficient system of prevention and treatment to keep people across England, Scotland and Wales safe from gambling harms.
Working in partnership with expert organisations and agencies, including the NHS, these donations fund a range of services, including the National Gambling Treatment Service, which includes the National Gambling Helpline.
In addition to this core funding, GambleAware has received £1.5m in regulatory settlements. GambleAware has also published a list of companies who supported the Safer Gambling Campaign, Bet Regret, for its first year in 2019. The amount donated came to £3.8 million alongside media donations from broadcasters.
Marc Etches, CEO of GambleAware, said: “For the 10th year in a row, we have seen an increase in donations, which means for the first time, we have been able to meet our minimum target of £10m.
“Commissioning a coherent, coordinated and efficient system of prevention and treatment requires the strategic distribution of sufficient funding, guided by appropriate expertise underpinned by effective partnership working.
“GambleAware is currently the primary commissioner using best-practice to ensure that evidence informed services are developed according to need within a robust and accountable system and that funding is allocated efficiently and independently as one would expect of other health and social care commissioning and grant-making bodies.
“Our mission is to keep people safe from gambling harm and these donations are vital to making sure we are able to deliver on that mission. Gambling is a serious public health issue in Great Britain, with two million adults experiencing some level of gambling harm. With these donations, we are able to continue funding the National Gambling Treatment Service to provide treatment for those who need it, while working in partnership with the NHS and Citizens Advice amongst others.”
