UKGC announces list of Industry Forum members, led by Nick Rust OBE

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has unveiled the appointed members of its newly established Industry Forum, aimed at providing the Commission with valuable insights from key stakeholders within Britain’s gambling sector.

Chaired by Nick Rust, OBE, former Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, the Industry Forum comprises notable figures from various segments of the gambling industry. Among the distinguished members are directors from prominent companies including Entain, Betfred, Flutter, and The Rank Group.

The forum features:

• Tony Boulton, Merkur UK’s director of public and political relations
• Kirsty Caldwell, Betsmart Consulting founder and director
• Charles Cohen, founder and CEO of the UK gambling financial technology company Department of Trust and non-executive director at Games Global
• Ashley Padgett, director of compliance and anti-money laundering at Flutter’s UK and Ireland (UK&I) division
• Mark Pearson, Betfred’s head of media 
• Nigel Roddis, managing director of Britbet
• Leo Walker, Entain’s customer operations director for UK&I
• Helen Walton, g.games founder and chief commercial officer
• David Williams, director of public affairs at Rank Group.

Reflecting on the selection process, Nick Rust said: "We had more than 40 applications from across the gambling industry from people wanting to take an active role in the inaugural Industry Forum. It was difficult to leave quite a few of those people out, but I’m delighted with the quality and experience of the appointees."

Rust highlighted the Industry Forum’s role in offering diverse perspectives from across the gambling landscape, underscoring its potential to contribute to the Commission's evolution and performance as the industry regulator.

The first meeting of the Industry Forum is scheduled for March 21, where members will commence their collaborative efforts to share insights and experiences with the Commission.

The UKGC says the establishment of the Industry Forum aligns with its evidence-led approach to regulatory governance, aiming to enhance understanding of operators’ viewpoints on regulatory plans, industry servicing, and consumer welfare. 

The Industry Forum announcement follows the UKGC's release in February of the first wave of data from its Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB), a comprehensive research endeavor involving 20,000 participants annually. The survey, one of the largest gambling data research projects globally, comes as the regulator looks to improve its data processes.