- Written by Philippa Roxby
- health reporter
image source, Getty Images
The UK government is considering taxing gambling companies, which would bring in £100m a year to fund NHS treatment.
Instead of the current voluntary system, all businesses are required to “pay a fair contribution.”
Ministers said the money would be invested in treatment and support for people affected by gambling in England, Scotland and Wales.
Groups representing the industry said they support the new tax.
But the Gambling and Gambling Council also said funds from the levy should only go to “genuine” charities and organizations tackling problem gambling and related harms.
The government’s plan looks like this:
- Online businesses will pay 1% of their revenue
- Betting shops and casinos will pay out about 0.4% of profits
Culture Secretary Lucy Fraser said: “The introduction of this levy strengthens the safety net and builds on our long-term plan to help millions of people continue to gamble safely, while helping build stronger communities. It will help make this happen.”
consultation The plan will seek input from industry, doctors and academics, as well as those with experience of harmful gambling and the general public. It lasts 8 weeks.
In recent years, the number of people gambling online using their smartphones has increased rapidly.
This means they can gamble anytime and anywhere throughout the day, increasing the likelihood of addiction, experts say.
In the summer, NHS England announced that it would open a specialist gambling addiction clinic this year.
- Milton Keynes
- Thurrock, Essex
- derby
- bristol
- liverpool
- blackpool
- sheffield
- London
- leeds
- newcastle
- manchester
- southampton
- Stoke-on-Trent
- telford
London is also home to a national clinic that treats gambling and gaming addictions in children and young people.
Health Secretary Neil O’Brien said: “Harmful gambling can affect people’s savings, destroy relationships and destroy people’s lives and health.
“Gambling companies should pay their fair share for treatment services, but we want to hear from as many people as possible about how the new statutory levy should work.”
Claire Murdoch, head of mental health at the NHS, said it was natural that “this £1 billion industry would step up to help people suffering from gambling addiction”.
“Slide scale”
The Gambling and Gambling Council said its members had already pledged £100m over four years to fund research, education and treatment services through the voluntary levy system.
It added that the new levy should be applied on a sliding scale to all operators, including the National Lottery, to protect high street betting shops that have suffered during the pandemic.
The draft health guidance is currently under consultation.
