UK Opens Its Largest Independent Gambling Harms Research Center

The United Kingdom has officially launched the largest independent gambling harms research center in the country. The launch is a response to Britain’s rising problem gambling rates and the economic burden excessive gambling causes.

The so-called Gambling Harms Research UK (GHR-UK) Evidence Centre is an initiative of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and was funded through the government’s new gambling levy, according to the UKRI’s official announcement.

GHR-UK Evidence Centre Launches as the Largest of Its Kind in the UK

In its release, the UKRI emphasized that problem gambling affects thousands of Brits, resulting in an annual economic burden of GBP 1.4 billion or more. This impacts not only the harmed individuals, but also the healthcare and criminal justice systems, since problem gambling can lead to depression, suicide, and criminal behavior.

The Gambling Harms Research UK (GHR-UK) Evidence Centre will, therefore, collaborate with the government, health and charity organizations, and lived experience individuals to better understand gambling harm and potentially strengthen the UK’s gaming policies.  

The new center therefore will:

• manage a comprehensive and innovative research programme on gambling harms
• build capacity in gambling harms research
• collaborate with stakeholders
• explore how UKRI and other data assets can support generating new evidence
• coordinate the cohort of GHR-UK Innovation Partnerships

The UKRI noted that the GHR-UK Evidence Centre will expand on existing research, enhancing Britain’s understanding of gambling harm. The center will also train a new generation of gambling research leaders.

Furthermore, the UKRI confirmed that the center will be “primed to work with policy partners, health agencies and charities.”

A Major Step in Building a High-Quality Research Base

According to the UKRI, the opening of the new center aligns with its commitment to investing 20% of the gambling levy proceeds into research. So far, levy-sponsored initiatives have included the new center, 32 rapid evidence reviews, 19 new innovation partnerships, and four UKRI policy fellows.

The new center, in particular, is a major part of the UKRI’s Research Programme on Gambling.

Christopher Smith, Arts and Humanities Council executive chair, commented on the matter, highlighting the devastating consequences unrestrained gambling could have on families and communities.

This new independent Evidence Centre is a major step in building the high-quality research base needed to inform better policy, prevention and treatment across the UK.

Christopher Smith

The UKRI added that it has planned further problem gambling research initiatives, including planned research on the convergence between gambling and video gaming.

Heather Wardle, professor of gambling research and policy at the University of Glasgow, hailed the introduction of the new gambling levy and the center itself as a “vital reset” that will help to address problem gambling in the country.

The New Levy Allows the Center to Be Independent

For context, the gambling levy in the UK replaced the previous voluntary contributions system, where industry stakeholders would actively fund safer gambling organizations. While some larger operators were happy to contribute millions, this system was widely criticized for several reasons.

One of the reasons was the fact that not all companies contributed equally. The new levy takes a portion of all operators’ revenues, ensuring a level playing field. Additionally, people previously criticized the voluntary system, arguing that it made charities dependent on the gambling industry and created a conflict of interest. This was another problem solved by the new levy.

Because of that, the UKRI emphasized that a key benefit of the GHR-UK Evidence Centre is the fact that it will be fully independent from commercial gambling interest.