GambleAware Cleared by Charity Commission after Investigation
The UK’s Charity Commission has concluded its investigation into GambleAware and concluded that the charity took “appropriate steps” to maintain its independence from the gambling industry.
Charity Commission clears GambleAware of bias, following investigation.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Charity Commission Finds No Fault with GambleAware
The inquiry began in March following concerns were raised about the charity’s impartiality due to its reliance on donations from the gambling industry. A campaign supported by the Good Law Project had questioned GambleAware’s neutrality because it depended on donations from the gambling sector. This led to the Commission opening a regulatory compliance case into GambleAware.
The investigation determined that GambleAware had the necessary processes in place to achieve its goals and while the Commission provided guidance, it did not find any faults or issue any criticisms against the charity.
GambleAware welcomed the findings and called for a transition from the current funding model based on voluntary donations from gambling companies, as set by the government, to a statutory levy on operators, which is already being considered following a recommendation last year.
Zoë Osmond, CEO of GambleAware, said she was pleased with the Commission’s decision and highlighted the trustees’ independence and the charity’s commitment to public benefit.
We continue our work to prevent gambling harm and provide vital support to those affected. These include the commissioning of impactful gambling harm prevention programs and treatment services through the National Gambling Support Network.
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Conclusions Questioned by Good Law Project
Despite the Commission’s conclusions, the Good Law Project is not happy with the outcome. Hannah Greer, the campaign manager, said that since 2022, the NHS has been declining funds from GambleAware for gambling addiction treatment clinics, suggesting a discrepancy between the Commission’s findings and the NHS’s position.
Greer argued that if GambleAware truly prioritized public interest, it would have more strongly criticized the gambling industry’s tactics, which she claimed profit significantly from problem gamblers.
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