Glasgow receives tax funds to address gambling harm

Glasgow City Council has received over £3.44 million over the next three years to expand its initiatives aimed at mitigating gambling-related harm in the city. The funding comes from the legal industry tax and will support "The Glasgow Project," based on previous work led by local groups focused on gambling harm.

Fund to Enhance Prevention Initiatives

The funding will enable the expansion of prevention work in schools and youth services, providing support to young people with gambling-related debts. Training for health, community, and public service staff is also planned, along with targeted investment in three neighborhoods with a high concentration of betting shops.

Key priorities for 2026-27 include hiring more staff for the prevention team, revitalizing interagency collaboration, and developing a specialized financial inclusion service to assist those affected.

Significant Financial Impact in Glasgow

According to a recent report from the Glasgow Welfare, Equality, Communities, Culture and Participation Policy Committee, the cost of gambling harm in the city exceeds £15 million annually. Additionally, around 42% of betting establishments in Glasgow are located in areas with higher deprivation rates.

Restructuring the Gambling Tax

The project is funded through the legal tax implemented in April 2025. This industry-funded tax aims to raise approximately £100 million annually to support research, prevention, and treatment related to gambling harm. It replaced the previous voluntary funding model. The Gambling Commission manages the collections under the oversight of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The DCMS has also allocated £25.4 million from the tax to 33 voluntary, community, and social enterprise organizations in England, funded through the operators' tax.

Wales Adopts the Initiative

Glasgow's financial support is based on pilot initiatives and a public health approach that promotes a comprehensive system-based approach to gambling harm. In January 2025, Public Health Scotland published findings mapping Glasgow's support network and exploring risk factors.

Similarly, in July, Public Health Wales announced a new two-year funding initiative supporting community-led efforts to "de-normalize" gambling-related harms in Wales. This grant is aimed at voluntary, community, and social organizations, with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action overseeing its administration.