MS, Minister for Mental
Health and Wellbeing: The statutory levy on gambling operators
came into effect on 6 April 2025 and provides a source of
sustainable funding for research, prevention, and the treatment
of gambling-related harms – £120m has been raised across the UK
in the first year of the levy.
In July 2025, I updated
Members about the processes I have set up to ensure Wales' share
of the levy is used to effectively tackle gambling-related harm.
I have appointed Public Health Wales as the co-ordinator for
prevention activities and NHS Performance and Improvement as the
treatment co-ordinator.
Public Health Wales is working with health boards, clinicians and
wider partners to introduce a prevention model designed to reduce
gambling-related harms in Wales. This includes the roll-out of
new national measures to prevent gambling-related harm, including
digital resources. It will establish new evidence-based
programmes through health board public health teams and collect
data about prevalence. It will also be developing practical
materials for schools, sports clubs and communities.
In relation to treatment, following advice from NHS Performance
and Improvement, specialist NHS gambling harm treatment
services and the gambling helpline service for Wales will be
provided by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. This will
build on the health board's expertise in managing national
helplines such as DAN 24/7 and CALL. The establishment of these
new specialist services represents a significant step forward in
providing the comprehensive treatment needed to support people
affected by gambling and gambling harms in Wales.
The specialist gambling harm treatment service and helpline
service will be operational from 1 April. These will continue to
evolve as care pathways are refined. The existing support systems
set up by GambleAware will be
available until 31 March.
I am immensely grateful to all organisations who support people
in Wales affected by gambling, including those commissioned by
GambleAware through its treatment and support networks. I
recognise the crucial role these organisations have played.
As we put in place new programmes in Wales, I want to build on
the wealth of knowledge and expertise in the voluntary,
community, and social enterprise sector and ensure it can work
with the new system. In April, Public Health Wales will launch a
grant scheme providing opportunities related to gambling
prevention. NHS Performance and Improvement, as part of its work
to expand the gambling treatment pathway, will also work with
health boards to explore opportunities for the voluntary,
community, and social enterprise sector to be involved.
I am committed to implementing our new levy-funded system from
April and working with stakeholders to prevent and treat gambling
harms in Wales.
