Gambling harm prevention charity GambleAware received £294,722 in donations and pledges in the first quarter of its 2024/25 financial year, and has called on funding to remain consistent ahead of the introduction of the statutory levy.

The contributions for research, prevention and treatment work are “consistent with the last four financial years,” GambleAware said, with Q1 donations typically fewer than those received in Q4.

CEO Zoe Osmond said: “This is anticipated to be the final year of the voluntary donation system, before moving on to a system with a statutory levy.

“As we transition to the new system it is essential that funding is maintained at the same level as previous years to ensure there is no disruption to prevention and treatment services for gambling harm.”

The statutory levy, a white paper policy that the UK government is leading, would make the NHS the main commissioner of gambling harm research, prevention and treatment outreach.

This is opposed to the current system of operators donating directly to Gambling Commission-approved organisations.

The government’s proposals are for online gambling operators to pay one per cent of their gross gambling yield, with betting shops and casinos to pay 0.4 per cent.

The government has said that the new levy will raise an estimated £100m of new funding for research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms.