Entain’s £2m contribution makes up majority of Q1 GambleAware donations

The total amount donated in the three months to 30 June was 180.5% higher than the £820,000 put forward during the same period last year.

Entain donated a total of £2.0m to the charity during Q1, significantly more than any other gambling business for the period.

The next-highest amount came from Videoslots, which donated £50,000, while Broadway Gaming and Apricot Investments both donated £30,000 to the charity.

Star Racing donated £20,720 in the first quarter, while Virgin Bet submitted £16,892 and Intouch Games £14,100, across three payments of £4,700.

All British Gambling Commission licensees are required to make a contribution towards research, education and treatment. The Commission publishes a list of charities that fulfil this requirement, with GambleAware the only one to qualify for all three of research, education and treatment.

GambleAware asks all businesses who profit from gambling to donate at least 0.1% of their annual gross gambling yield (GGY) directly to the charity.

Aside from donations, GambleAware received a number of pledges, including £65,605 from BetVictor, £10,000 from Mansion Group Holdings and £5,000 from Novomatic.

Other donations came courtesy of One Click (£22,801) and STS.BET (£22,000). GambleAware did not receive any funds from regulatory settlements during the quarter.

Donations in the 12 months ended 31 March climbed 80.9% to £19.0m after major increases in donations from Flutter and Entain.

Those two operators, alongside fellow market leaders Bet365 and William Hill, pledged to donate a total of £100m to improving treatment services for problem gamblers by the end of 2023.