Ruth Evans Appointed Permanent Chair of Gambling Commission

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced on 7 September that Ruth Evans will be the next permanent Chair of the Gambling Commission. Evans is set to commence her five-year term on 30 September, succeeding interim Chair Charles Counsell. The appointment fills a leadership role that has remained without a permanent appointee since Marcus Boyle departed in January 2025, a period of almost two years.

Evans is the first woman to chair the Commission since it assumed its full regulatory powers in 2007. She joins the regulator from a background outside the gambling sector, with a career focused on consumer protection and financial oversight. Her previous experience includes founding and chairing the anti-fraud organisation Stop Scams UK, a four-year tenure at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and chairing the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).

A government statement highlighted Evans' four-decade career in leadership roles across charities, regulatory bodies, and financial oversight boards, noting her focus on public protection and institutional accountability. Her other past positions include chairing the Bar Standards Board, serving as a non-executive director of the Serious Fraud Office, and acting as a lay member of the General Medical Council.

Leadership Overhaul

The appointment marks a significant step in stabilising the Commission's senior leadership, which had recently been operating without a permanent Chair, Chief Executive Officer, or Executive Director. Following the departures of former CEO Andrew Rhodes and Policy and Research Director Tim Miller, the regulator is still in the process of recruiting for those permanent positions.

A Challenging Mandate

Evans takes charge at a critical time for the UK gambling industry. Her primary task will be to oversee the finalisation and implementation of measures stemming from the government's Gambling Act review white paper. This includes navigating the contentious rollout of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs), a policy that has drawn criticism from industry stakeholders, the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee, and political figures.

Ruth Evans becomes Chair at an incredibly important time, supporting a sustainable, thriving industry with essential protections needed to prevent harm.

The new Chair’s mandate is set against a backdrop of increasing fiscal and political pressure. The sector is adjusting to a Remote Gaming Duty that rose to 40% five months ago, with a planned increase in the General Betting Duty from 15% to 25% scheduled for next April. Furthermore, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has publicly stated his intention to clamp down on high street betting shops.

Evans' appointment, given her lack of direct industry experience, may also be viewed in the context of criticism from figures such as champion racehorse trainer John Gosden, who has previously commented on a perceived lack of sector experience among Commission employees. Meanwhile, outgoing interim Chair Charles Counsell noted that the regulator is developing a new strategy and increasing its efforts to combat illegal gambling.