by Anton Johan
One of the aims of the UK government is to bring down the number of problem gamblers in the country.
To assist with this, groups such as the GREaT Foundation step in to support research, education and treatment of problem gamblers.
In fact, the acronym for GREaT stands for Gambling Research, Education and Treatment.
In June of 2009, Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe told the gambling community that he was weighing the idea of introducing obligatory levies as gambling groups were not donating enough to the GREaT Foundation.
After negotiations, he agreed that if the foundation managed to collect €5.5 million a year for the next three years, he would scrap the idea.
This week, the foundation announced that it had managed to raise the amount for 2010.
It was found that more than one third of companies licensed to provide betting services in the United Kingdom contributed to the fund.
The Director of GREaT, Geoffrey Godbold said: "We hope that the gambling companies that failed to donate realize that it's a vital cause. With the collected €5.5 million, we prove that many companies are aware of its importance."
"It's for the own good of the business to evade obligatory levies," he continued. "Hopefully they take responsibility in the future. A new government implicates a new start. The gambling business wants to be perceived as responsible."
GREaT has now set a new goal for 2010/2011 and hopes to raise 20% more than last year.
