The B.C. government is increasing funding for charities, arts and culture groups as part of an overhaul of the way gambling revenues are handed out.

Premier Christy Clark announced the changes Wednesday after releasing the results of a review of the community gaming grant system conducted by former Kwantlen University president Skip Triplett.

She said the government will provide $135 million dollars for non-profit groups this year, an increase of $15 million, but still short of the funding available before cuts were made in 2009.

Clark said the new system will give non-profit organizations more certainty about funding.

"We aren't going to have tons of contingency space available in future years, and if we don't bake this into the budget, if we don't make it part of our long-term planning, no arts group, no community group could ever be guaranteed that it would be there," she said.

Clark said several groups struck from the grant system in 2009 will once again be able to apply, including adult arts and sports organizations, environmental groups and animal welfare agencies.

Alliance for Arts and Culture executive director Rob Gloor was pleased with the announcement, especially with word that the $135 million is now considered "base" annual funding for the non-profit sector.

"There is no doubt that today's announcement will have a very positive impact in communities across B.C. through the work of hundreds of organizations," he said.

However, NDP critic Spencer Chandra Herbert said Clark's announcement is just a repeat of an earlier promise and the funding still falls short.

"This is a 10-month-old re-announcement of money that Christy Clark is dressing up as new so she can get a photo-op. It's still nearly $20 million less than what her government cut," he said.

And B.C. Government and Service Employees Union President Darryl Walker said despite the funding boost, money from the grants has not kept pace with increasing revenues from gambling.

"Setting a $135 million baseline grant budget will not alleviate the chronic underfunding and uncertainty faced by community-based organizations in our province," said Walker, whose union represents workers in non-profit social service agencies that depend on the grant funding.