(AsiaGameHub) –   The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has announced the organizations set to receive £25.4 million in funding from the Gambling Levy.

UK.- The UK government’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has unveiled the initial list of groups that will get funding through the new Gambling Harms Prevention VCSE Fund. These selected organizations will be supported by the compulsory UK Gambling Levy, which was implemented 12 months ago.

As part of the new levy framework, OHID has assumed responsibility for commissioning services aimed at preventing gambling harm, taking over from the now-closed GambleAware—the body that used to distribute funds gathered under the earlier voluntary scheme.

OHID has tentatively set aside £25.4 million to fund 33 organizations for the 2026–2028 period. The beneficiaries include charities, educational trusts, advice services, and community groups.

Among the groups getting the biggest grants, GamCare—operator of the 24/7 National Gambling Helpline—will receive £4.04 million, while the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM), which works extensively with schools and youth organizations, will be awarded £3 million.

Betknowmore has been granted £2.99 million, and BetBlocker—a free gambling-blocking tool that raised concerns in December about hitting a “funding cliff edge”—will receive £1.12 million. Multiple Citizens Advice offices and regional groups will get sums ranging from £140,000 to £1.3 million.

Around £12 million will be given to local councils to back community-based efforts to prevent and reduce gambling harm.

BetBlocker’s selection was welcomed by its founder Duncan Garvie, who described the grant as “a major achievement” and “a high standard by which the organization will be evaluated.” However, Garvie noted that other top-tier service providers had not been successful in their funding applications.

The launch of the new funding setup has sparked controversy. Some charities have voiced complaints about getting just 13 days’ notice of funding outcomes, and a number of long-standing groups have been turned down for support.

Gamban, a prominent gambling-blocking software provider, was left out because it functions as a limited company instead of a voluntary, community, or social enterprise. Since then, it has started charging a £4.99 monthly subscription fee in England and Scotland, though the service is still free in Wales.

The Gambling Lived Experience Network labeled the transition as “a clear example of the consequences when existing sector experts are excluded from planning.” In reaction, the government announced a Gambling Levy Transition Fund last month, providing three months of emergency aid for organizations that didn’t get funding. Applications are open until April 30.

The government has appointed three national commissioners to manage Gambling Levy funds: NHS England handles treatment, UK Research and Innovation oversees research, and OHID is responsible for prevention—with corresponding bodies in Scotland and Wales also involved.

The levy was first billed on September 1, 2025, and is projected to bring in approximately £120 million annually from licensed gambling operators. Thirty percent goes to OHID and devolved governments for prevention work, while the remaining funds are split between treatment and research.