GambleAware hits £10m funding target in 2019/20
UK gambling industry charity GambleAware has announced its list of donors for the year ending 31 March 2020, with GVC’s £1.46m donation again leading the way.
In total, 956 entities – mostly from gambling businesses – made voluntary donations, worth a combined £10.1m, just exceeding the charity's target of £10m, after failing to reach the target last year.
Ladbrokes Coral operator GVC was one of three operators to donate at least £1m, with Paddy Power Betfair operator Flutter Entertainment and WIlliam Hill donating exactly £1m each.
Bet365 followed with a donation of £865,000. Sky Betting and Gaming donated £705,000, with parent company the Stars Group adding a further £125,000.
Gamesys donated £426,000, Betway £153,500 and Genisis Global £145,000.
Among suppliers, Playtech was the largest donor with £150,000, and SG Gaming’s The Global Draw brand donated £85,714.
GambleAware asks all businesses who profit from gambling in the UK to donate at least 0.1% of gross gambling yield, or if their gross gambling yield is less than £250,000, then to donate at least £250.
The charity also received £1.4m through three regulatory settlements agreed by operators and the Gambling Commission during the year.
The largest of these settlements was with Gamesys, for £690,000 after it was found to have failed to prevent gambling harm and breached UK money laundering regulations.
LeoVegas, meanwhile, paid a £600,000 settlement over failings related to misleading advertising and the handling of customers in 2018. Playtech also paid a £155,000 settlement.
Industry body the Betting and Gaming Council said it was happy to see its members donating funds to support safer gambling.
“We are pleased that our members have stepped up their funding of GambleAware along with a range of other charities to increase the help and support available to those at risk,” the BGC said.
The BGC added that it would step up its commitment research, education and treatment towards safer gambling in the future.
“Our largest members have gone further and committed up to an additional £100m to research, education and treatment over the next four years, increasing donations from 0.1% of profit to 1% of profit,” it continued.
“With a continued focus on advertising, it is good to see £3.8m raised from the industry for the Bet Regret campaign which amplifies safer gambling messages and also has the support of major media partners. This work and funding will continue in 2020/21.”
“Through continued funding by our industry over more than 20 years charitable services are able to provide free of charge treatment, support & advice services for anyone affected by gambling.”