New changes from Gambling Commission

New changes from Gambling Commission

Neil McArthur resigned with immediate effect, with a search for an interim chief executive due to begin shortly.

The head of the Gambling Commission is to step down. 

His departure comes at a critical juncture for the regulator, which has faced criticism for being underpowered and failing to adapt to the rise of online and mobile gaming, in part because it receives too little funding from the government.

McArthur presided over the commission during a period marked by growing unease about the behaviour of the gambling industry.

He led efforts to rein in the VIP schemes, ban gambling on credit cards and impose tighter controls on both advertising and online casino game design. 

The regulator’s deputy chief executive, Sarah Gardner, and its chief operating officer, Sally Jones, will jointly become acting chief executives.

Permanent chief executive will not be hired until a new chair is appointed. The term of office of the chairman, Bill Moyes, ends later this year.

McArthur spent nearly 15 years at the regulator, serving as both general counsel and as chief executive from 2018.

He said: “I am proud of everything the Gambling Commission has achieved during my 15 years with the organisation. We have taken significant steps forward to make gambling fairer and safer, and I know that I leave the organisation in a strong position to meet its future challenges.''