The Gambling Supervision Commission makes sure licence-holders in the Isle of Man fulfil their obligation to help fund organisations hurt by gambling, Treasury Minster Alfred Cannan has pledged.

The Minister said a condition of holding a Gambling Supervision Commission licence was that an operator must practise ’good corporate social responsibility’.

They are required to make an annual ’proportionate’ contribution to one or more organisations that ’conduct research into the prevention and treatment of gambling related harm or an organisation that develops harm protection approaches and/or identifies and funds treatment of those harmed by gambling’.

It was up to the GSC to make sure the condition was met.

In Tynwald last week, Speaker of the House of Keys Juan Watterson (Rushen) raised concern about who was taking responsibility and asked for an assurance the money was going to the right people.

Mr Cannan said: ’We are ensuring that the money is being distributed in accordance with the requirements that are laid out to these businesses.’

Since 2016, businesses did not have to make the contribution to the GSC, he said, instead they could make contributions directly to the appropriate organisations.

’Some chose to direct funds to additional services in their clients’ target markets while others chose to direct funds to the island’s local addiction services,’ said Mr Cannan.

The GSC monitored this, he said.