The new fund is intended to draw on the experience of voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations that already work closely with people and communities across Wales.
Public Health Wales said supported projects should contribute to the prevention of gambling-related harm rather than the provision of clinical treatment. This could include community education, awareness initiatives and earlier interventions designed around the needs of particular groups.
Applicants can request grants of up to £75,000 for each year of the two-year programme. Registered charities, voluntary organisations, community interest companies and social enterprises are eligible, provided their proposed work will be delivered in Wales.
The organisation said the scheme was developed in response to engagement with the voluntary sector and people with lived experience of gambling harm.
Fund Forms Part of Wales’s Statutory Levy Programme
The programme is financed through Great Britain’s statutory gambling levy, which came into effect on 6 April 2025 and replaced the previous voluntary industry contribution system.
The levy raises mandatory payments from licensed gambling operators to finance research, prevention and treatment services. According to a Welsh Government statement, approximately £120 million was raised across the UK during its first year.
Public Health Wales was appointed to coordinate prevention activity in Wales, while NHS Performance and Improvement was given responsibility for coordinating treatment services.
The Gambling Levy Transition Fund was introduced to help gambling harm prevention, treatment and research organisations maintain services during the move from voluntary contributions to the statutory system.
Wales Expands Prevention and Treatment Infrastructure
The grant scheme forms one part of a wider restructuring of gambling support services in Wales.
Public Health Wales is developing a prevention model that will include digital resources, evidence-based programmes delivered through health board public health teams and improved data collection on the prevalence of gambling-related harm.
Practical materials are also planned for schools, sports clubs and community organisations.
Separately, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has been appointed to provide specialist NHS gambling harm treatment and helpline services for Wales, including the newly launched NHS Wales gambling helpline and specialist treatment service.
The separation of prevention and treatment responsibilities reflects the wider allocation model for statutory levy funding. Prevention programmes are intended to reduce exposure and identify risks earlier, while specialist healthcare services support people already experiencing harm.
What the Funding Means for the Gambling Sector
The grant programme does not introduce additional licensing conditions or direct compliance requirements for gambling operators.
However, it provides an early indication of how statutory levy revenue is being converted into independently coordinated programmes across Great Britain. The funding will support organisations outside the gambling industry in developing local responses based on community needs and lived experience.
For licensed businesses, the development also illustrates the wider policy shift behind the levy. Gambling harm funding is no longer dependent on voluntary contributions or directed primarily towards treatment providers. It is increasingly being divided between research, clinical services and preventative public health activity.
Public Health Wales described the grant fund as the first stage of its broader prevention programme, meaning further levy-funded initiatives are expected as the new Welsh framework develops.
