A new version of Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (“LCCP”) has been published, which came into effect on 1 January 2020. 

The main changes relate to social responsibility code provision 3.1.1 and combatting problem gambling.  From 1 January 2020, licensees must direct their annual financial contribution for gambling research, prevention and treatment (“RET”) to one or more of the organisations approved by the Gambling Commission.

Licensees must:

• make an annual financial RET contribution to each of research, prevention and treatment;
• ensure they donate to one or more approved organisations;
• ensure they have no connection to the recipient organisation; and
• report information accurately in their regulatory return about the destination of their RET contribution and the amount donated (noting it must not include any duplication of data across multiple licences).

The Gambling Commission does not specify the amount which should be contributed as there is, presently, there is no statutory levy.

As of 26 January 2020, the approved list is as follows:

Organisation	Research	Prevention	Treatment
Action on Addiction
Addiction Recovery Agency
Beacon Counselling Trust
GambleAware
GamCare
Gordon Moody
YGAM

The only organisation that meets all three criteria of research, prevention and treatment is GambleAware.  Licensees may donate to more than one organisation and, therefore, split their contribution. Organisations will continue to be added to the approved list.  There is no cost for working with the Gambling Commission to be added to the approved list.

Licensees are free to donate to other organisations; however, they will not be recognised by the Gambling Commission under the LCCP as RET contributions.