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. Backed by £22.1 million in funding for 2025-2026, the Gambling Harms Research UK Evidence Centre will examine the issue across public health, policy, sport, and online gambling. The centre will be led by the Universities of Glasgow, Sheffield, Swansea, and King’s College London. Professor Heather Wardle, a gambling research and policy expert at the University of Glasgow, will serve as its director. Martin Jones, a campaigner with lived experience of gambling harm, will also join the team.

Research will cover a wide range of areas, from financial data to the impact of sports betting. The centre forms part of a larger UKRI Research Programme on Gambling, which includes 32 rapid evidence reviews and 19 Innovation Partnerships. Four UKRI policy fellows will also contribute to the work. Funding for the centre comes from 20% of the statutory Gambling Levy. UKRI estimates that harmful gambling costs the UK economy around £1.4 billion each year.

The new centre aims to provide evidence-based solutions to reduce gambling harm. Its findings will support policymakers, health professionals, and organisations working to address the issue. The £22.1 million investment reflects the UK’s commitment to tackling the economic and social impact of problem gambling.