The UK Government has announced that the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has been named as the Prevention Commissioner to help tackle gambling harm in the UK.
In response to the announcement, GambleAware has welcomed the appointment, but has called for current support to “continue to be recognised and sustained within the future system”. Gordon Moody has also welcomed the appointment.
However, concerns have also been raised by Deal Me Out Founder Jordan Lea and Dan Waugh of Regulus Partners.
OHID named as Prevention Commissioner
In a statement, the Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, Stephanie Peacock, confirmed the OHID as Prevention Commissioner.
Within the new statutory levy system, the OHID will work alongside the Treatment Commissioner NHS England and relevant bodies in Scotland and Wales, as well as the Research Commissioner UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Peacock said: “To ensure that there is sufficient trust, expertise and authority in the use of the levy funding for prevention, I can confirm that we have appointed the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to take on the role as lead commissioning body in this area for England, alongside appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales.
“Prevention remains a crucial part of the government’s efforts to tackle gambling-related harm. An effective prevention plan seeks to identify the right mix of interventions to be applied at both the population and individual level.
“In its broadest sense, prevention will include a wide spectrum of measures, including but not limited to regulatory restrictions on products, place, and provider, as well as tailored measures for at-risk groups and individuals, including education and early intervention activities, with the ultimate goal of delivering on the government’s objective to reduce gambling-related harm in Great Britain.
“That is why the government is increasing investment through the levy to facilitate a comprehensive approach to harm reduction in all three nations of Great Britain.”
GambleAware welcomes OHID appointment
GambleAware has released a joint statement from the charity organisation’s CEO Zoë Osmond and Chair Professor Siân Griffiths, which states that they welcome the Government’s announcement that the OHID will be the Prevention Commissioner.
“We welcome the Government announcement that the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) will be the Prevention Commissioner within the new statutory system for addressing gambling harms,” said GambleAware.
“It is entirely appropriate that a statutory organisation takes on this responsibility, working alongside NHS England, relevant bodies in Scotland and Wales, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in their roles as treatment and research commissioners.
“We look forward to working with the Government and three new commissioners to build on the existing expertise and strong capabilities within the current gambling harms system.”
Mixed industry reaction
According to Player Protection Hub, Deal Me Out Founder Jordan Lea has raised concerns about the OHID being Prevention Commissioner, commenting: “I have grave concerns about the appointment of OHID as prevention commissioner. Its relationship with Gambling With Lives has resulted in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority using discriminatory language to potentially deter people from using GambleAware’s National Gambling Helpline.
“Furthermore, it has actively campaigned against organisations and people with lived experience due to the way they were funded. These aren’t the actions of an independent commissioner. I believe a number of charity organisations will be under threat from this appointment – particularly those staffed by people with lived experience of gambling harm.”
Dan Waugh of Regulus Partners has described the OHID as “openly prohibitionist and has been guilty of misleading policy-makers and fabricating statistics on gambling harm. It is also believed to be working with activist groups on the development of hard-hitting ‘tobacco-style’ health warnings to accompany gambling advertisements”.
Meanwhile, Gordon Moody has welcomed the appointment, stating that it is looking forward to collaborating with the OHID to tackle gambling harms.
The charity said on LinkedIn: “It is essential that the new Prevention Commissioner adopts a cohesive approach, working alongside NHS England, the relevant bodies in Scotland and Wales, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in their roles as treatment and research commissioners. This collaboration will build on the positive work already underway and leverage the deep expertise and experience within the current system.
“While we are proud to be part of the broader National Gambling Support Network (NGSN), Gordon Moody’s contributions go further. Our specialised experience and dedicated efforts in supporting those affected by gambling harm uniquely position us to shape the future system. Our work, grounded in years of hands-on expertise and enriched by insights from the lived experience community, highlights the critical need for a prevention-led public health approach.
“To ensure that those most at risk continue to be supported, it is imperative that prevention and treatment commissioners work together to agree on a set of shared public health outcomes. Gordon Moody is committed to working closely with these commissioners during the transition, ensuring that both our specific expertise and the wider NGSN’s knowledge help communities across Great Britain receive the vital support they need.”
Levy funding breakdown
The statutory levy aims to raise approximately £90m to £100m per year. The funding will be collected and administered by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) under the strategic direction of the UK Government.
Levy rates – the percentage charged on an operator’s gross gambling yield from the previous year – will be 1.1% for online operators, 0.5% for casinos and bookmakers and 0.2% for bingo operators.
Funding will be split as follows: 20% to research to establish a bespoke Research Programme on Gambling (RPG) and to the UKGC to direct further research in line with the licensing objectives; 30% to prevention to develop a comprehensive approach to prevention and early intervention across Great Britain; and 50% to treatment to commission treatment and support services, working collaboratively with the third sector.
Peacock said: “OHID and appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales will undertake necessary design work to determine the final scope of prevention activity, working closely with the research and treatment leads to ensure a joined-up approach.
“We will develop and provide clear and measurable outcomes for the prevention strand of the statutory levy system, as we have already done for research and treatment.”
Peacock added that future activity from the OHID may also focus on awareness-raising to help build the public’s understanding, local and regional initiatives to address harms earlier and more effectively at local and regional levels, as well as building capacity with investment for organisations to further understand and deliver harm reduction activities.
Earlier this month, the UKGC stated they expect the statutory levy to be enforced from 6 April.
Peacock concluded: “The statutory levy will for the first time provide ringfenced investment towards the prevention of gambling-related harms. Together with OHID and the wider levy system, we are confident that the levy will play a crucial role in the government’s manifesto commitment to reducing gambling-related harm.”
GambleAware calls for current support to be sustained
GambleAware noted that it is “looking forward” to seeing how the lived experience community’s expertise that is part of the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN) will “continue to be recognised and sustained within the future system”.
In addition, the charity said that key research, education and training programmes must be “recognised and maintained”, such as its national public health behaviour change campaign to reduce stigma and the GambleAware website, as well as work of the wider third sector.
“To truly address gambling harms, a prevention-led population-based public health approach is needed,” GambleAware stated.
“This must involve engagement with the public health community to ensure an integrated approach at both a national and local level across prevention and treatment, with a focus on achieving an agreed set of public health outcomes.
“To inform this, we now hope to see details of the new Levy Board and Advisory Panel published soon, to ensure no further delays to the full implementation of the future system.
“As we move forward, we will work with OHID to ensure a smooth and safe transition to the future system. We believe the new system needs effective population-based prevention activity to raise awareness of the risks of gambling and ensure an integrated approach to supporting those at risk of harm.
“We will strive to play our full part in the future system in whichever way best ensures a collaborative and effective system is created to move us towards our vision of a society free from gambling harm.”
