The London Borough of Islington has received a £250,000 funding injection to support a two-year programme aimed at reducing gambling-related harms and associated health inequalities across North Central London.

The initiative will run from January 2026 to December 2027 and will bring together five London boroughs, as well as Thrive LDN and Mind in Haringey, to improve prevention, awareness and access to support services.

Funding for the Islington programme was awarded by Greo Evidence Insights via the Network to Reduce Gambling Harms Community Investment Programme.

The project will include the creation of a North Central London partnership focused on preventing gambling-related harms, as well as a regional assessment that will examine the scale and impact of gambling-related issues and identify potential interventions.

A public awareness campaign is also planned during the 2026 FIFA World Cup – a mammoth sporting event likely to garner plenty of betting attention – alongside the development of a best-practice tool kit designed to help local authorities and partner organisations improve prevention and support services.

According to data from NHS England, people with long-standing mental health conditions, and those who are experiencing financial struggles, are more likely to report gambling behaviours that cause harm.

“Gambling harm is hitting people who are already under the most pressure, and that’s why this work matters so much,” said Islington Councillor Dr Sara Hyde, Executive Member for Health and Social Care.

“By joining forces across London, we can more effectively challenge the tactics of the gambling industry, raise awareness of the risks, and make sure people get support early.   

“This partnership is a vital step towards reducing gambling harms and building a healthier, more equal future for our vibrant communities.” 

Hyde also chairs the London Gambling Harms Action Group, which brings together councils, public health teams and voluntary sector organisations to coordinate work on gambling harms across the capital. The group currently includes 17 boroughs.

Separately, Islington has expanded local support services in partnership with gambling harm charity BetKnowMore. Since early 2025, the programme has delivered more than 1,400 brief interventions and held 63 support hub sessions at a centre in the area. 

The council said more than 1,800 residents have received support since the service launched in September 2024.

Islington to input preventative measures at a crucial time

The news regarding Islington comes at a time of change for gambling harm prevention in the UK. GambleAware, the UK’s commissioner of gambling harm research, is set to close its doors permanently at the end of this month and hand over responsibility to government-backed bodies. 

The Gambling Commission’s annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain, published in October 2025, showed that in 2024, 2.7% of adults aged 18+ in Great Britain scored 8+ on the Problem Gambling Severity Index. 

From the survey of 19,000 people from across Great Britain, the data also estimated that 1.4 million people were impacted by problem gambling.

Meanwhile a survey carried out by Nationwide found that one in 10 gamblers spend an average of £745 per month on gambling, while 68% of those surveyed noted that they are expecting to bet more this year due to major sporting events.