The UK gambling industry embarks on a new chapter as former British Horseracing Authority chief executive Nick Rust assumes the role of chair for the Gambling Commission’s newly established Industry Forum. Rust, having a distinguished six-year tenure at the British Horseracing Authority, was appointed chair in November 2023 and will serve for a period of two years.
The forum is poised to be a melting pot of ideas and experiences, featuring a lineup of professionals from the upper echelons of the UK’s gambling sector. Among them is Flutter’s director of compliance and anti-money laundering for UK and Ireland, Ashley Padgett, and Entain’s customer operations director for the same region, Leo Walker. The collaboration does not end there, as Betfred’s head of media Mark Pearson and Rank Group’s director of public affairs David Williams also bolster the forum’s ranks.
The collective expertise is further enriched by the inclusion of Merkur UK’s director of public and political relations Tony Boulton and Betsmart Consulting founder and director Kirsty Caldwell. They will be joined by Charles Cohen, the founder and CEO of the UK gambling fintech company, Department of Trust, who also serves as a non-executive director at Games Global.
Additional appointments to this vibrant think tank include Nigel Roddis, managing director of Britbet, and Helen Walton, founder and chief commercial officer at g.games. With over 40 applicants vying for a seat at the table, the selection process was nothing short of challenging. Rust articulated his satisfaction with the final selections, praising the quality and experience of those chosen.
The inception of the Industry Forum was first publicized in September 2023, arising from the Gambling Commission’s commitment to integrating operators’ insights on a multitude of pertinent topics. This initiative aims to scrutinize operators’ perspectives on the Gambling Commission’s strategic plans, evaluate how the Commission serves both the industry and consumers, and seeks a deeper understanding of operators’ business methodologies.
The forum will also work hand in hand with a range of stakeholder engagement initiatives and advisory groups, including the Commission’s Lived Experience Advisory Panel and Advisory Board for Safer Gambling. Outlining its dedication to an evidence-led approach, the Industry Forum emerges as a pivotal development in informing the Gambling Commission’s operations. Rust envisions the forum providing valuable insights that will assist the Commission in evolving and improving its regulatory performance.
In a significant move towards enhancing its knowledge base, the Gambling Commission unveiled the first wave of data from its extensive Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) in late February. Touted to be an annual survey of 20,000 people, the GSGB stands as one of the most comprehensive gambling data research initiatives worldwide. This surge in data-driven focus follows the release of an evidence gaps and priorities paper by the Commission in May 2023, introducing an ambitious research agenda set for 2023-2026.
From this first release, it was noted that 48% of surveyed individuals had participated in gambling over the previous four weeks. Interestingly, once lottery-only players were excluded, this figure dipped to 27%, highlighting the lottery’s prevalence amongst gamblers. The survey uncovered that more than a fifth of approximately 4,800 respondents exclusively engaged in lottery activities.
With the next tranche of GSGB data scheduled for release on 27 June 2024, further examination of gambling participation and behaviors is eagerly anticipated. This forthcoming wave will analyze responses collected from 6 November 2023 to 7 March 2024, potentially unveiling more nuances of the UK’s gambling landscape and consumer trends.
As the Industry Forum readies for its first meeting on the 21st of March, the stage is set for what is anticipated to be dynamic and influential discourse that will help shape the future of gambling regulation in the UK.
