UKGC Adds Nine Members to Its Industry Forum

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has unveiled new additions to its Industry Forum. Announced in 2023, the forum will be made up of members of the gambling sector who will advise the regulator and provide it with important industry insights.

In addition to Nick Rust, who was announced as chairman of the Industry Forum in November, the UKGC named nine new members. The members represent Britain’s largest gambling companies and have all the experience needed to help the regulator handle the ongoing reforms properly.

The newly announced members include Tony Boulton, Merkur UK’s director of public and political relations, Kristy Caldwell, a director at Betsmart Consulting and Charles Cohen, the founder and CEO of Department of Trust and a NED at Games Global.

Furthermore, the newly announced Industry Forum members include Ashley Padgett, Flutter’s director of compliance and AML for the United Kingdom and Ireland. She will be joined by Mark Pearson, head of media at Betfred, and Nigel Roddis, managing director at Britbet.

 The new appointments will also see Leo Walker, the customer operations director for the UK and Ireland of Entain, join the Industry Forum together with Helen Walton, chief commercial officer at g.games and David Williams, Rank Group’s director of public affairs.

First Meeting Announced for March 21

With such a wealth of experienced executives, the Industry Forum is shaping up to be a powerful body that will provide the UKGC with valuable advice.

Rust welcomed the new appointees on board, saying that this group of industry professionals should be able to provide the British regulator with the help it needs to improve its performance. According to him, the UKGC had to select from over 40 applicants, which was no easy task.

It was difficult to leave quite a few of those people out, but I’m delighted with the quality and experience of the appointees, and hope as a group we can offer perspectives from across all parts of the industry which the Commission can draw upon to help evolve and improve its performance as the regulator.

Nick Rust, chair, Industry Board

The UKGC announced that the Industry Forum’s first meeting will take place on March 21. This will mark the date the aforementioned members “begin the work of sharing their insight and experience with the Commission,” the authority added.