Public Health Wales launches £1.4m gambling harms prevention fund

Public Health Wales (PHW) has unveiled a new £1.4 million funding programme to support community organisations working to prevent gambling-related harms. It will have a particular focus on people considered most at risk.

The Gambling Harms Voluntary Sector Grant Fund will provide up to £700,000 per year over the next two years. Organisations can apply for grants worth up to £75,000 each year, provided they’re eligible.

Applications will open on 31 August 2026. The closing date is 19 October 2026. The programme will be administered by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA). This is on behalf of Public Health Wales.

Funding aims to prevent gambling harm

The funding is intended to support voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. These organisations are ones that focus on delivering projects across Wales that aim to prevent gambling-related harm before it escalates.

Eligible initiatives include:

• Public awareness campaigns that de-normalise harmful gambling behaviours.
• Targeted prevention work for higher-risk groups.
• Community outreach services.
• Support for people affected by someone else's gambling.

Public Health Wales said it is particularly interested in projects that work with more vulnerable communities. This includes:

• People facing financial hardship.
• Individuals involved with the criminal justice system.
• Families affected by gambling harms.

The programme also encourages projects that incorporate lived experience. Ones that build evidence around effective interventions or deliver lasting preventative benefits are also encouraged.

WCVA encourages organisations to apply

The Wales Council for Voluntary Action will oversee the distribution of the funding. It is encouraging organisations from across Wales to submit applications.

"We want the money to reach a wide range of voluntary sector organisations across the country and encourage groups working with at-risk populations to apply." – Catherine Miller, Assistant Director of Grants & Income at WCVA

Early intervention is a priority

Public Health Wales said the initiative will strengthen prevention and early intervention. It will support organisations already established in local communities.

"This programme will support organisations closest to those most affected. It will deliver prevention and early intervention, focussing on addressing inequalities and reaching those most at risk of harm." – Helen Erswell, Consultant in Public Health for the Gambling-Related Harms Programme at Public Health Wales

The fund is open to registered charities, community interest companies, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. This is provided that their activities are delivered within Wales.

Part of wider gambling harms strategy

The announcement follows broader changes to gambling harms funding across Great Britain following the introduction of the statutory gambling levy.

Earlier this year, the UK Government confirmed a £25.4 million two-year programme to support gambling harm prevention. The funding will be generated through the mandatory levy on licensed gambling operators.

The latest Welsh initiative also comes days after the UK Gambling Commission confirmed that future regulatory settlement payments will be paid into the Government's Consolidated Fund. This is rather than being directed towards gambling harm research and treatment projects as they had been previously. This follows the introduction of the statutory levy, which now provides dedicated funding for research, prevention and treatment activities.