Only GambleAware, GamCare and YGAM approved by UKGC for problem gambling funding

The Gambling Commission has published the list of approved organisations to which gambling companies are permitted to make social responsibility financial contributions in order to meet their licence conditions. 

In an unexpectedly short list, only GambleAware, GamCare and YGAM (Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust) have been approved by the regulator, although other organisations are knocking on the door. 

As part of their licence conditions, operators must: 

• make an annual financial contribution to each of research, prevention and treatment 
• ensure that these donations go to one or more organisation on the list below 
• ensure that they have no connection to the recipient organisation 
• report information accurately in their annual or quarterly regulatory return to the Commission about the destination(s) of their payment and the amounts that have been contributed. This includes ensuring that there is no duplication of data across multiple licences. 

The Commission has said it will collate information about LCCP RET contributions and publish this information at least annually.  

Businesses can continue to donate funds to any organisation outside of the approved list, but such contributions will not be counted as LCCP RET contributions.   

The regulator also said that organisations seeking to be on the list of organisations to which gambling businesses may direct their RET contributions should provide information to the Commission to help assess their suitability. This will include the need for independent oversight or regulation.

However the Gordon Moody Association has questioned why its charity hasn’t made the list, especially as the long-running organisation is the only one to offer residential treatment to those suffering from problem gambling.

Why are GMA not on the list please as we submitted the required form @GamRegGB

— Gordon Moody Assoc. (@GordonMoody) January 2, 2020

Epic Risk Management, the firm which has been very active in educating sportsmen and women about problem gambling have also been left off the list, although that is because it has not yet been able to submit its details for scrutiny.

We are considering an application for the New Year. The application process was only released (to us…) the week before Christmas by @GamRegGB so surprised anybody on it so quickly ?

— EPIC Risk Management (@epicpgc) January 1, 2020

The list also suggests that all gambling organisations should be contributing to GambleAware no matter what, given that it is the only organisation that is approved for problem gambling research. As it stands, operators have no other option in order to meet LCCP conditions to fund research, prevention and treatment.