UK launches £22.1m research hub to combat gambling-related harm

A new independent research centre has launched in the UK to tackle gambling-related harm. The Gambling Harms Research UK Evidence Centre will examine the issue across public health, policy, sport, and online gambling. Funding for the initiative comes from the statutory Gambling Levy, with £22.1 million allocated for 2025-2026. The centre will be led by a team of universities, including Glasgow, Sheffield, Swansea, and King’s College London. Professor Heather Wardle, an expert in gambling research and policy at the University of Glasgow, will serve as its director. Alongside her, Martin Jones—a campaigner with firsthand experience of gambling harm—will take on the role of lived-experience lead.

Research will cover a wide range of areas, from financial impacts to online betting trends. The centre will also oversee 19 Innovation Partnerships under the GHR-UK framework. This work forms part of the broader UKRI Research Programme on Gambling, which already supports multiple projects. Gambling harm currently costs the UK economy around £1.4 billion annually. The new centre aims to provide evidence-based solutions to reduce this burden.

The Gambling Harms Research UK Evidence Centre will receive £22.1 million in its first year. Its findings are expected to shape future policies and interventions. The initiative marks a significant step in addressing the economic and social impact of gambling-related harm.