Acting manager of Uk gambling regulator established to retain job soon after crackdown vow

The acting manager of the Gambling Commission is to be supplied the occupation on a long lasting foundation, the Guardian understands, signalling govt approval for his vow to crack down on gambling companies’ “recidivist behaviours” in advance of a landmark industry critique.

Andrew Rhodes grew to become performing main govt of the regulator in June 2021, soon after the unexpected resignation of Neil McArthur.

Rhodes has due to the fact hinted at programs to acquire a sterner solution, in line with predicted reforms of gambling legislation, due to be unveiled in a govt white paper early this year.

During a speech past thirty day period, Rhodes claimed the commission would acquire a tricky line with organizations that transgressed the problems of their licence more than the moment, promising to crack down on “recidivist behaviours in direction of compliance”.

He also mentioned that the marketplace had “overstated” its repeated warnings that punters would be driven in the direction of the black marketplace if regulatory reforms have been also draconian.

“We are not heading to be deflected absent from that mission, in some sort of race to the base since somebody else is worse,” stated Rhodes. “That’s the whole level of acquiring a regulated market place.”

The Guardian understands that Rhodes’ tone has been nicely been given inside of the Gambling Commission and in federal government, with the society minister, Nadine Dorries, envisioned to verify his everlasting appointment imminently, on a salary of £150,000.

Rhodes will oversee two of the most important times in the Gambling Commission’s heritage, the government gambling assessment and the fiercely-fought levels of competition for the fourth countrywide lottery licence.

Rhodes is a former director of operations at the Department for Do the job and Pensions and also served as main working officer of the Food items Requirements Company.

He was also main functioning officer of Swansea University, his alma mater, and chair of the neighborhood trust at Swansea City football club. In 2020, Swansea Metropolis turned the highest-profile club in the Uk to fall a betting firm as its sponsor, amid a broader marketing campaign to disentangle gambling from football.

The Guardian has approached DCMS and the Gambling Fee for remark.