Key Moments:
- Glasgow City Council hosted a major Gambling Summit in September, uniting key organizations to tackle gambling-related harms.
- The Scottish Government has supported a harm-reduction approach, while Glasgow continues to advocate for meaningful legislative change from Westminster.
- New statutory levies on gambling are expected to bring only limited funds to Glasgow, despite an annual local cost of over £15 million.
Summit Drives Collective Action Against Gambling Harms
Glasgow City Council recently hosted the “Standing Strong for a Safer Scotland” Gambling Summit, building on efforts first launched at a development day in Shettleston over six years ago. Organized in collaboration with the RCA Trust and numerous partners, including Glasgow Life, Fast Forward, GamCare Scotland, Gamble Aware, Cyrenians, Simon Community Scotland, and the John Hartson Recovery Workshop, the summit aimed to advance community-wide strategies against gambling-related harm.
Since the initial 2019 meeting and a subsequent two-day summit in 2021, recognition of the connection between gambling harms and issues such as debt, depression, suicide, homelessness, and other addictions has grown substantially among Scottish service providers. The summit brought together a diverse range of stakeholders—community leaders, service providers, researchers, policymakers, and those directly affected—to exchange expertise and reinforce combined efforts to prevent and mitigate gambling harm. Attendees heard about resources like Simon Community Scotland’s toolkit and ALIA, a web platform for women affected by gambling.
Highlights from Stakeholders and Research
Presenters included PFA Scotland, representing football players and discussing industry ties; Govan Youth Information Project, which addressed how gambling strategies target younger demographics; and the University of Glasgow Gambling Research Group, sharing new research on the effects of gambling in retirement and its broader impacts.
Representatives from the Scottish Government reaffirmed their support for treating gambling as a public health concern and emphasized ongoing work with the UK Government, under whose remit the Gambling Act 2005 falls.
Glasgow’s Advocacy for Systemic Reform
Despite local and national efforts, concerns remain regarding the UK Government’s urgency on gambling reform. Glasgow City Council has frequently communicated to Westminster about its innovative Multi-Agency Group and action plan focused on gambling harms. Following the announcement of a gambling levy in December 2024, council leaders expressed support, highlighting Glasgow’s readiness to lead as a national center to address gambling harms through research, education, and treatment funding. However, no response was received to these communications, including a letter sent after a committee update in April 2024 requesting a review of the Gambling Act and fair resource allocation for Glasgow.
In early September 2025, a motion was successfully passed by Glasgow City Council reiterating calls for legislative reform, including recognition of specific challenges in Scotland and limitations faced by local authorities. Brent Council subsequently echoed these calls in a UK-wide campaign for enhanced local powers to address gambling addiction.
Assessing the Economic and Social Toll
The necessity for reform is underlined by significant financial and human costs. Official figures for 2021-22 reported industry losses totaling £14.1 billion. In Glasgow, the annual estimated cost of gambling harms exceeds £15 million, while the UK-wide figure surpasses £1 billion per year for councils, the NHS, and public services. Conversely, projections indicate the forthcoming statutory levy will contribute only a few million locally, far short of actual need.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual industry losses (2021-22) | £14.1 billion |
| Gambling tax rate | 21% |
| Social cost of gambling harm (UK annual) | £1 billion+ |
| Estimated annual cost to Glasgow | Over £15 million |
By contrast, duties for alcohol and tobacco may reach as high as 80%, while gambling remains VAT exempt. The disparity deeply impacts public finances and social well-being, with local jurisdictions bearing much of the cost as industry profits continue to grow.
Calls for Policy Change Intensify
Public figures such as former Prime Minister Gordon Brown have joined the movement for tighter regulation and increased taxation, emphasizing the link between gambling policy and broader social issues. Arguments in favor of higher industry taxes not only address child poverty measures but also highlight the industry’s underlying contribution to those very challenges.
Proponents urge a comprehensive approach—recognizing the complexity of gambling harm, supporting early intervention and accessible treatment, and empowering both local authorities and communities with adequate funding and decision-making power. Glasgow’s “No Wrong Door” model exemplifies this multi-dimensional strategy, providing support across an individual’s life stages and circumstances.
Looking Ahead
Local representatives are pressing for Westminster to heed growing calls for reform, including a long-requested meeting with Glasgow City Council to discuss unified efforts among all levels of government and community partners. Without decisive action, stakeholders warn that communities will continue to bear social and financial costs that far exceed the currently proposed measures.
- Author
Daniel Williams
