From financial year 2025/26, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) became the national commissioner for gambling harm prevention following the introduction of the statutory gambling levy. This marks a move away from a voluntary, industry‑funded model to one designed to ensure transparency and independence.

A dedicated OHID gambling harms prevention team has been established to oversee this funding and to lead the development of a new national prevention programme. This includes managing the transition from the pre‑levy system  to a new model where prevention activity is commissioned directly by OHID and funded through the statutory levy.

To support this transition, OHID, in partnership with ADPH London and Haringey Council, delivered a symposium on reducing gambling harms in March 2026, bringing together local authority and ICB representatives from East of England, London, South East, South West, and West Midlands regions.

The report from the symposium can be accessed here.

Following the symposium, the Community of Practice was established, to continue supporting London local authorities in their work on reducing gambling related harms.

Aims of Community of Practice

• To provide CPD opportunities for borough-based Reducing Gambling Harms leads i.e. public health strategists and commissioners, as well as DsPH, CsPH and colleagues from OHID London and GLA health teams.
• To share best practice and evidence from across London, as well as outside the London region as required.
• To allow opportunity/space for collaboration and to be a vehicle for disseminating key intelligence on reducing gambling harms across London.
• To support the health improvement agenda and reduce health inequalities. 

Membership:

• Reducing gambling harms leads/ commissioners, London Directors of Public Health and Public Health Consultants from the 32 London Local Authorities + City of London
• OHID London
• GLA Health Team

Network Leads

• Dr Jackie Chin, CPH OHID London, Ruth Du Plessis, Interim DPH Brent, Dr Will Maimaris, DPH Haringey – co-Chairs
• Joanna Drazdzewska, Programme Operations Manager, ADPH London – Network Coordinator