Sarah Murphy MS, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
The statutory levy on gambling operators came into effect on 6 April 2025 and provides a source of sustainable funding for research, prevention, and the treatment of gambling-related harms – £120m has been raised across the UK in the first year of the levy.
In July 2025, I updated Members about the processes I have set up to ensure Wales’ share of the levy is used to effectively tackle gambling-related harm. I have appointed Public Health Wales as the co-ordinator for prevention activities and NHS Performance and Improvement as the treatment co-ordinator.
Public Health Wales is working with health boards, clinicians and wider partners to introduce a prevention model designed to reduce gambling-related harms in Wales. This includes the roll-out of new national measures to prevent gambling-related harm, including digital resources. It will establish new evidence-based programmes through health board public health teams and collect data about prevalence. It will also be developing practical materials for schools, sports clubs and communities.
In relation to treatment, following advice from NHS Performance and Improvement, specialist NHS gambling harm treatment services and the gambling helpline service for Wales will be provided by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. This will build on the health board’s expertise in managing national helplines such as DAN 24/7 and CALL. The establishment of these new specialist services represents a significant step forward in providing the comprehensive treatment needed to support people affected by gambling and gambling harms in Wales.
The specialist gambling harm treatment service and helpline service will be operational from 1 April. These will continue to evolve as care pathways are refined. The existing support systems set up by GambleAware will be available until 31 March.
I am immensely grateful to all organisations who support people in Wales affected by gambling, including those commissioned by GambleAware through its treatment and support networks. I recognise the crucial role these organisations have played.
As we put in place new programmes in Wales, I want to build on the wealth of knowledge and expertise in the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector and ensure it can work with the new system. In April, Public Health Wales will launch a grant scheme providing opportunities related to gambling prevention. NHS Performance and Improvement, as part of its work to expand the gambling treatment pathway, will also work with health boards to explore opportunities for the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector to be involved.
I am committed to implementing our new levy-funded system from April and working with stakeholders to prevent and treat gambling harms in Wales.