The Academic Forum for the Study of Gambling (AFSG) welcomes the government’s plans to introduce a statutory levy to fund gambling harm research, prevention, and treatment.
We are especially encouraged by the commitment to establishing a sustainable and meaningful level of funding for independent research on gambling harm. In our letters to ministers, we have stressed that this has long been a critical need, and we are optimistic about the impact this investment will have on driving evidence-based policy and practice in the coming years.
The AFSG has consistently advocated for evidence-led approaches and has funded research into critical areas of gambling harm identified as priority areas by the 2023 White Paper. These have included projects examining social and economic factors related to gambling harm, the impact of gambling advertising, links between gaming and gambling, and the relationship between gambling venues and harm.
In addition to the levy, we are pleased to see plans to implement significantly lower stake limits for online slots, a move that is strongly supported by the existing evidence base.
However, while these measures represent meaningful progress, we note that several important proposals from the 2023 White Paper have yet to be addressed in this latest announcement. We look forward to further clarity and updates on:
- Measures to address gambling by individuals under 18;
- Initiatives to make online games safer by design;
- Steps to limit the advertising and promotion of gambling;
- Developments regarding affordability checks; and
- The outcomes of consultations on allowing cashless payments on gaming machines.
The AFSG remains committed to supporting research and fostering dialogue that ensures gambling policies that are grounded in robust evidence. We look forward to continued collaboration with all stakeholders to achieve these shared goals.
Academic Forum for the Study of Gambling 