Greo Evidence Insights (Greo) has received historical regulatory settlement funds that were allocated for socially responsible purposes, including establishing, operating, and evaluating the Network and the Community Investment Programme. Although these funds originated from the accounts of gambling operators, they differ in several important ways from other forms of industry funding.

Regulatory settlement funds are involuntary payments made by gambling operators. They constitute ‘a payment in lieu of the financial penalty the Gambling Commission might otherwise impose for breach of a licence condition.’ Importantly, ‘there is to be no publicity or benefit for the operator in connection with the regulatory settlement,’ and operators have no control over, nor are they permitted to communicate with, the recipient organisation (in this case Greo), except as required to complete the financial transaction. Decisions regarding the allocation of regulatory settlement funds were made by the Social Responsibility Funds Group. Once awarded, the Gambling Commission exerts no influence over how these funds are used other than routine monitoring to ensure that funded projects meet the milestones outlined in their proposals.

Since 2000, Greo (formerly as the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre (OPGRC) and later as Gambling Research Exchange Ontario), has funded gambling-related research and community-based knowledge mobilisation aimed at preventing, educating about, and mitigating gambling-related harm. Greo provides governance and oversees the distribution of regulatory settlement funds through a transparent review process. Our policies and procedures for awarding research and community grants are based on those of the Canadian Tri-Council, the three national bodies responsible for funding research in Canada.

While the availability of regulatory settlement funds has been practical and valuable for supporting third-sector organisations working to reduce gambling-related harms, we welcome the creation of a statutory levy. For the first time, this levy will provide a ring-fenced and sustainable source of investment dedicated to the prevention of gambling-related harms.