Scottish Government opens £375,000 gambling harms mental health fund

The Scottish Government has opened applications for a new £375,000 fund to support community-based projects tackling gambling-related mental health harms, including suicide prevention, as part of a wider £7.9 million investment funded through the statutory UK Gambling Levy. 

The funding, announced by the Scottish Government on 2 July, will be available to organisations undertaking projects and research focused on the relationship between gambling harms and mental health. The fund is administered by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) and forms part of Scotland’s Population Health Framework, supporting prevention, early intervention and treatment services delivered by the NHS, local authorities and the third sector. 

It is the second year the Gambling Harm and Mental Health Fund has been made available, following support for 16 projects during 2025-26. The latest funding round will continue work to improve understanding of gambling harms within communities and develop interventions to reduce their impact. 

Announcing the funding, Scotland’s Minister for Mental Health, Maree Todd, said gambling is often normalised despite being linked to “many hidden harms”. She said evidence from projects supported during the previous funding round found gambling harms were frequently connected with wider issues including substance misuse, housing insecurity and debt, but often remained hidden behind those challenges. 

The £375,000 fund forms part of the Scottish Government’s previously announced £7.9 million allocation from the statutory Gambling Levy. In March, ministers confirmed the funding would support prevention, early intervention, treatment and research across Scotland, with investment shared between NHS services, local authorities and third-sector organisations. 

Applications are open to third-sector and community-based organisations across Scotland. According to the Scottish Government, projects should focus on improving understanding of gambling-related mental health harms, particularly among disadvantaged, marginalised and minoritised communities, while examining how gambling intersects with wider social, economic and environmental inequalities. Successful projects are also expected to contribute to suicide prevention and the development of evidence to inform future policy and support services.