As Donald Trump once said to a BBC news correspondent at one of his first press conferences – “Oh here’s another beauty….” The same could almost certainly be said of the announcement that the OHID has been selected to be gambling harm Commissioner to the Statutory Levy. The office of “flawed reports”, as some might refer to it, has been welcomed by a fanfare of raspberries from many in the industry who neither trust it nor rate it. Respect mate….

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities has been appointed to oversee harm prevention as commissioner to the Statutory Levy, responsible for allocating £30m every year to third-party organisations reducing gambling harm. 

The OHID will be tasked with developing a comprehensive development plan for the UK, while also reviewing the NHS treatment system, once the new gambling levy comes into effect in April.

“OHID and appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales will undertake necessary design work to determine the final scope of prevention activity, working closely with the research and treatment leads to ensure a joined-up approach,” said gambling minister Baroness Twycross.

“We will develop and provide clear and measurable outcomes for the prevention strand of the statutory levy system.”

Responding to the announcement, the Betting and Gaming Council welcomed the appointment of a body to oversee distribution, but warned “given OHID’s previous flawed report on gambling in 2023, it is essential the Levy Board has strict oversight of OHID and these significant funds, including enforcing a clear set of protocols to ensure transparency, a programme of evaluation plus a regime of external auditing.”

The council added that BGC members and licensed operators have voluntarily contributed over £170m to RET initiatives since 2021, with the industry funding an independent network of charities “currently caring for 85 percent of all problem gamblers receiving treatment in Britain.”