UK Gambling Commission to Close Advisory Board for Safer Gambling
Closure of the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling by UKGC
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced it will be dissolving the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG), following the completion of the board’s initial objectives.
Transition to New Structures by the UKGC
The ABSG was originally established to oversee the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms and to provide critical oversight. With the strategy successfully concluded and several significant milestones reached, the UKGC has determined that the advisory board is no longer necessary and is therefore closing it down.
Among the ABSG’s notable achievements were the recognition of gambling harm as a public health concern, the promotion of involving individuals with lived experiences in regulatory decisions through the creation of the Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), and supporting the introduction of a new statutory levy to finance gambling harm research, education, and treatment (RET) independently of the gambling industry.
The UKGC has indicated that it will focus on developing new arrangements that align with the evolving phase of gambling research and regulation. This includes plans to form a new expert group dedicated to research which will support expanded RET initiatives.
Acknowledgment of ABSG’s Contributions
Andrew Rhodes, CEO of the UKGC, praised the ABSG’s significant role in advancing the understanding and management of problem gambling in the UK. He expressed gratitude to all members for their dedication to ensuring that problem gambling remains a serious issue in public discourse.
“As we move into a new phase with the implementation of research programmes funded by the statutory levy, our priority is to ensure we have the right expert input to help inform our work. This is the right time to close ABSG and establish new arrangements that reflect the future needs of our gambling regulation and research.”
Andrew Rhodes, CEO, UKGC
Helen Child, head of governance at UKGC, also thanked the ABSG for its substantial impact on gambling regulation and contributions to the UKGC’s mission.
Upcoming Closure of GambleAware
Alongside these changes, the UK is preparing to disband GambleAware, the principal charity addressing problem gambling, as it transitions to funding RET initiatives through a statutory levy instead of voluntary donations.
The closure process for GambleAware is expected to be completed by March 31, 2026, signaling a significant shift in how gambling harm is supported and managed in the UK.
The UK government has announced it will appoint three new national commissioners to oversee gambling harm RET programs, transferring GambleAware’s responsibilities to various public bodies nationwide.
