BMJ Concerned about RET Levy as First Invoices Loom

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published more details about the new gambling statutory levy, highlighting the requirements for operators across all verticals. At the same time, BMJ has expressed concerns about the levy.

UKGC to Submit the First RET Levy Invoices Soon

The statutory levy was one of the measures outlined in the Gambling Act white paper and, according to experts, an important factor for ensuring gambling treatment remains independent from the industry. Under the new measure, operators will be required to contribute a fixed portion of their revenue to the gambling harm research, education and treatment (RET) sector.

The statutory levy will effectively replace the voluntary donations system, under which operators were free to choose how much to donate. However, critics argued that this created an uneven playing field and that it also made the RET sector dependent on the gambling industry.

The statutory levy was officially introduced through the Gambling Levy Regulations 2025 and enforced on April 6, the same year. The first invoices, meanwhile, are set to be issued on September 1, with operators required to submit payments by October 1 via GovPay or bank transfer.

Operators Must Pay the Levy or Risk Losing Their Licenses

Under the new levy, operators will have to submit between 0.l% and 1.1% of their revenue to the RET sector. The levy size for all operators, except lottery operators, will be based on regulatory returns data.

For the majority of operators, the levy size will be based on the gambling facilities offered in the UK. The levy size for online operators and software provider, on the other hand, will take their overall income into mind.

The UKGC emphasized that the levy is a license requirement and that gambling companies that eschew their payments will risk losing their licenses. At the same time, licensees will no longer be required to submit voluntary RET contributions. If they decide to do so anyway, the contributed sum will not count toward their levy payments, the UKGC warned.

BMJ: RET Independence Not Guaranteed

In the meantime, the BMJ (British Medical Journal) scrutinized the RET levy, suggesting that its current form could have adverse effects. Despite projections that the levy will generate approximately GBP 100 a year, a fifth of which would go to the arts and humanities division of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

According to some people within the RET sector, the levy will not protect the sector from the gambling industry’s influence. On the contrary, the UKRI noted that industry representatives were reportedly encouraged to apply for co-leadership roles in gaming.