Grainne Hurst, CEO of the BGC, warns of the implications of the mandatory levy
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13 Aug 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes The mandatory levy in the United Kingdom aims to strengthen the prevention and treatment of gambling problems. Grainne Hurst, CEO of the BGC, warns of the risks of funds being used in a way that is detrimental to players.
In an interview with iGB, Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), shared her opinion on the Mandatory Levy, a new compulsory levy imposed on licensed operators.
History and initial objectives of the mandatory levy
The mandatory levy is a compulsory levy imposed on licensed operators, introduced this year following the recommendations of the 2023 white paper. Its stated objective is to ensure stable and consistent funding for research, education and treatment of gambling-related problems.
Until now, funding for these initiatives has relied on voluntary contributions from the industry. The new system centralises these resources under the supervision of the authorities, with the aim of standardising programmes and strengthening their scope.
On paper, this development seems positive:
- Guaranteed financial resources to combat harm.
- National coordination to harmonise actions.
- A response to criticism that the industry provides too little funding or does so unevenly.
Grainne Hurst’s concerns: a loss of control and the risk of an anti-gambling agenda
Grainne Hurst cautiously welcomes the principle, but points to two major dangers.
Misallocated funds
She fears that these resources will be used, in part, to support programmes or research carried out by anti-gambling lobbies, whose aim is to restrict the activity or even push for a gradual ban.
Such a diversion of funds would, in her view, risk ignoring the real needs of vulnerable people and funding campaigns that are more ideological than pragmatic.
‘We must remain aware and vigilant about how these funds are used,’ insists Hurst.
A loss of autonomy for the industry
Until now, the BGC has been able to invest directly in education, awareness and prevention. With the levy, she regrets that many things are now beyond their control. She fears that the effectiveness and responsiveness of actions will be reduced by centralised and slower processes.
The BGC’s vision: preserving prevention and education
For Hurst, the money from the levy should not only be used to fund research or activist campaigns, but also to finance concrete and accessible programmes for players:
- Targeted awareness campaigns, disseminated where the public actually plays.
- Practical prevention tools, integrated into platforms and points of sale.
- Personalised support for at-risk players, with quick and unbureaucratic solutions.
Even with the loss of control over part of the funds, she calls on the sector to continue its own investments outside the levy. For the BGC, it is a question of credibility: proving that the industry is proactive and responsible, regardless of legal obligations.