RET funding fumbled? Is UK’s new statutory levy killing charities?

RET funding (research, education and treatment) is crucial for charities which help those suffering from gambling addiction issues. For years it was funded by voluntary donations from operators but this year that has changed.

Now some charities are reportedly facing closure. So what does the future look like for the third sector and its relationship with gambling in the UK?

For this second webinar in the Crystal Ball series, iGB host James Swann-Phillips was joined by an expert panel including:

• Heather McKee, director of compliance, White Hat Gaming
• Alex Roberts, director of policy, Betting and Gaming Council
• Dan Waugh, partner, Regulus Partners

On the agenda were questions including:

• What are the main things that gambling charities do?
• Why did this change happen?
• From a compliance standpoint, how has the transition been handled?
• What problem was the levy trying to solve?
• What were the intended benefits of the levy?
• How are operators adjusting to the new requirements?
• Can the levy still ultimately be a success?
• The expected tax rises in this month’s budget will make levy funding fall – what are the implications?
  
  The panel wrapped up by staring into the iGB Crystal Ball and providing their predictions for the future of gambling charities and RET funding in the UK.
  

Some choice quotes from the session include:
“It’s worth reminding ourselves just how unorthodox the whole levy system is, and that probably gives us a hint as to why it’s turning into the disaster that it has become” – Dan Waugh

“I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want somebody to engage with industry when they’re doing research on the industry, it doesn’t mean they’ve got influence.” – Alex Roberts
“I think unfortunately, the grassroots charities who don’t need a lot of money to do very good work are the ones who are probably going to lose out now” – Heather McKee

“The fact none of this is funded by general taxation tells you in reality this is pretty low down the list for Government priorities as things that it cares about.” – Dan Waugh

“As operators we never want a customer to develop a problem with gambling, commercially, it’s not a good thing for us to do as a business” – Heather McKee

“It’s far too late [for financial support], it’s way way too late, charities will have gone by then, that’s an absolute fact” – Alex Roberts

Make sure to sign up via the form above for free access to this on-demand webinar.