GambleAware has informed the media that the Charity Commission has closed its case against the organisation and its trustees with no complaint summoned.
In March, a case was filed by The Good Law Project against GambleAware, citing that the charity had failed in its regulatory duties as chief commissioner of gambling harm research, education, and treatment (RET) projects, services, and organisations in the UK.
The Good Law Project, a public policy non-profit, criticised GambleAware for spreading false information on gambling-related harms and suicides and questioned the effectiveness of treatment services commissioned by the charity.
GambleAware refuted all allegations stating that the Good Law Project had reported inaccuracies of its treatment support services and misrepresentations of its duties. This morning GambleAware CEO Zoe Osmond responded: “The Charity Commission has written to GambleAware to confirm the case has been closed without criticism or findings against the organisation.
The regulator has stated unequivocally that they are ‘assured that the trustees have taken appropriate steps to both ensure its [GambleAware’s] independence from the gambling industry and to address reputational risks arising from its current funding model’.
Damaging GambleAware’s reputation, the case was featured as an iNews exclusive, in which The Good Law Project accused GambleAware of significant conflict of interest, being directly funded by the gambling sector.
“Importantly, the Commission has also stated it is ‘satisfied that the charity’s reliance on industry funding does not impact decision-making about its activities’. We were pleased to see the Commission acknowledge our robust policies and governance processes as well as the important role our Lived Experience Council plays in providing advice and direction to our activities, among others.
GambleAware stands by its RET projects and services, supporting the development of the NHS-led National Gambling Support Network (NGSN) to combat problem gambling harms across the UK.
The charity and its trustees await the government to finalise the operating model and structure of the RET Levy, funding the NGSN, an initiative that has been supported by the charity prior to the Gambling Review being initiated.
Osmond concluded: “Gambling harms have a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities. GambleAware is wholly dedicated to advancing our charitable purposes for the public benefit, which is why we have long called for the introduction of a statutory levy on the gambling industry to provide long-term sustainable funding for the treatment, support, and prevention of gambling harms.
“We urge anyone experiencing harm to reach out. Help and support are available through the National Gambling Support Network and the National Gambling Helpline, offering free, confidential assistance 24/7 to those in need.”