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- Ruth Evans has been confirmed as the new Chair of the Gambling Commission, appointed by DCMS Secretary of State Lisa Nandy.
- She takes up the five-year role from 30 September, succeeding Charles Counsell OBE, who has led the Commission as Interim Chair since February 2025.
- Outgoing Interim Chair Charles Counsell says Evans joins at an important time, with a new Commission strategy, the ongoing illegal gambling crackdown and the Gambling Act Review all in progress.
UK casino sites are getting a new regulatory boss, it has emerged.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed Ruth Evans as the new Chair of the Gambling Commission.
She takes up the role from September 30th, on a five-year term.
Evans succeeds Charles Counsell OBE, who has led the Commission as Interim Chair since February 2025.
My View
Her background is in consumer protection and financial crime, not gambling specifically.
She currently chairs Stop Scams UK, a collaboration between banks, tech firms and telecoms companies set up to tackle fraud.
Evans has also chaired the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and was the first Chair of the Bar Standards Board.
She spent nine years as a lay member of the General Medical Council and has served as a non-executive director at the Serious Fraud Office.
Outgoing Interim Chair Charles Counsell says Evans joins the Commission at an important time, with a new strategy, the crackdown on illegal gambling and the implementation of the Gambling Act Review all in progress.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| New Chair | Ruth Evans, appointed by DCMS Secretary of State Lisa Nandy |
| Start date | 30 September 2026, for a five-year term |
| Background | Chair of Stop Scams UK; former Chair of IPSA and the Bar Standards Board |
| Predecessor | Charles Counsell OBE, Interim Chair since February 2025 |
OLBG's Casino Content Manager David Coleman believes the appointment matters more than most people realise.
He said: "A new Chair sets the tone for years, not months.
"Ruth Evans has spent her career on consumer protection and fraud, which is a different background to a lot of past Chairs.
"That could mean a sharper focus on the practical stuff, like how casino sites treat players when something goes wrong, rather than just headline enforcement numbers.
"It's worth watching what she actually prioritises once she's had a proper run in the seat."
