UKGC: £750k Fund Not Linked to Crime Commissioner
FOI reveals gambling harm funds from regulatory settlements are managed by public health directors in the North East.
A Freedom of Information request has clarified the destination of a £750,000 fund for tackling gambling-related harm. The UK Gambling Commission confirmed the money, sourced from operator regulatory settlements, was awarded to public health directors in the North East for a three-year pilot project. The Commission holds no information linking the project to a specific Police and Crime Commissioner mentioned in the request.
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A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has shed light on the destination of a £750,000 fund designated for tackling gambling-related problems in the UK. The response from the Gambling Commission (UKGC) clarifies that the funds are part of a three-year pilot project in the North East of England and are not linked to a specific Police and Crime Commissioner mentioned in the original query.
Context: Transparency on Harm Reduction Funding
When gambling operators breach the terms of their licence, the UKGC can impose financial penalties. These funds, known as regulatory settlements, are often directed towards socially responsible causes to accelerate progress in reducing gambling harms. This FOI disclosure provides consumers with a clear view of how this system works in practice, showing where money intended to mitigate harm is being allocated and which organisations are responsible for its implementation.
Details of the Disclosure
The request, dated 8 September 2023, asked the Commission to confirm details about a £750,000 government fund and the involvement of Joy Allen, the Police and Crime Commissioner for County Durham and Darlington.
The UKGC’s response clarified several key points:
- Source of Funds: The £750,000 did not come directly from the Government but was sourced from regulatory settlements paid by gambling operators.
- Recipient Organisation: In November 2022, the funds were approved for a proposal submitted by the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) North East.
- Project Scope: The money is for a three-year pilot project designed to address gambling harms in the North East, a region identified as having high rates of deprivation and harmful gambling compared to other parts of England.
- Target Groups: The project focuses on providing support for vulnerable individuals, including those with poor health, pre-existing mental health conditions, and a history of substance misuse.
- No Link to Crime Commissioner: The Commission stated it holds "no information held regarding Joy Allen in relation to this project."
Significance for the Industry
This disclosure highlights the established mechanism for redistributing operator fines into harm reduction initiatives. By awarding the funds to the ADPH, the UKGC is endorsing a public health-led approach to tackling gambling harm, focusing on prevention and support within communities rather than solely on enforcement.
For consumers, this provides transparency and assurance that funds from regulatory penalties are being channelled into structured, long-term projects in areas of high need. It also corrects the public record, clarifying that this specific initiative is managed by public health experts in the region, not the Police and Crime Commissioner as the requester had suggested.