Gambling Commission names fraud specialist as new full-time chair

The UK Gambling Commission has appointed Ruth Evans as its new full-time chair, bringing extensive fraud prevention and public protection experience to the regulator as it finalizes key reforms from the Gambling Act review. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced on Monday that Evans will assume the position on 30 September, commencing a five-year term.

Evans succeeds Charles Counsell, who took the helm in February 2025 following Marcus Boyle’s departure in January last year. The appointment comes at a critical juncture as the Commission develops a new strategy and intensifies efforts to tackle illegal gambling while implementing measures from the white paper following the Gambling Act review.

Fraud Prevention Credentials

Evans currently chairs Stop Scams UK, an initiative she founded in 2019 to unite banks, technology companies and telecom providers in combating payment fraud. Her appointment signals the Commission’s continued focus on financial crime prevention and consumer protection within the gambling sector.

The DCMS highlighted Evans’ extensive career in public protection and financial crime prevention. Her previous leadership roles include chairing the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, the Bar Standards Board, and serving as a lay member of the General Medical Council. She also served as a non-executive director of the Serious Fraud Office.

Notably, Evans led the steering group responsible for developing a voluntary industry code that reimburses victims of authorised push payment scams, which was introduced in 2018. This experience in cross-sector collaboration could prove valuable as the Commission works with operators and technology providers.

Regulatory Priorities Ahead

In her statement on the appointment, Evans emphasized her commitment to enhancing online safety through “proportionate regulation with partnership and shared responsibility” involving regulators, industry participants and technology firms. This collaborative approach aligns with the Commission’s evolving regulatory framework under the reformed Gambling Act.

DCMS Secretary of State Lisa Nandy commented that Evans “becomes chair at this incredibly important time, supporting a sustainable, thriving industry with the essential protections needed to prevent harm.”

Counsell previously stated that the Commission was developing a new strategy and ramping up work to tackle illegal gambling, with Evans expected to play a “pivotal” role in these initiatives while also finalizing measures from the Gambling Act review’s subsequent white paper.

Broader Regulatory Reshuffle

The appointment arrives amid wider personnel changes at the regulator. Policy and research director Tim Miller is also departing after a decade in post, suggesting a significant transition period for the Commission’s leadership team.

For B2B suppliers and operators in the UK market, Evans’ background in fraud prevention and cross-industry collaboration may signal increased emphasis on anti-money laundering measures, payment security protocols, and technology-driven compliance solutions. Her five-year term provides stability as the industry adapts to the reformed regulatory landscape emerging from the Gambling Act review.