GambleAware, the UK-based NGO charged with tackling problem gambling, will receive additional funding of $125 million from members of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). The BGC confirmed the news that five of the country’s largest gambling firms have agreed to pass on the amount to help address lingering concerns about UK reckless gaming behaviour.
According to the announcement from the BGC, GVC Holdings, William Hill, Sky Betting and Gaming, Bet365 and Paddy Power Betfair will all have funds dedicated to support people and provide help in solving gambling problem behaviour.
That comes after news that UK operators will slowly scale the total amount they are contributing to gambling assistance from 0.1% at present to 1% of their annual revenue by 2023.
Commenting on this growth, Michael Dugher, chief executive of BGC, stated that the trade association and members were aiming to “push up standards” for the industry as a whole to adopt.
Most have welcomed the news, with UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock joining in congratulating the BGC on the organization’s steady success in providing players with a more secure overall gaming experience across the country.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, the BGC was particularly active, endorsing both regulatory and protective measures over the period. Both betting shops in the United Kingdom have been open since today, with punters flocking back in person while following strict sanitary standards.
Commenting on the recent increase of support for problem gambling, Hancock clarified that gambling problems could harm the mental health of individuals as well as impact their lives.
He shared his commitment to support these people. He stated that by incorporating more specialized services as part of the National Health Service (NHS), the government would continue to tackle gambling problems and then make them available to everyone who needs them.
