The UK Gambling Commission has announced the closure of the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG), signalling a strategic shift toward a research-focused regulatory approach. Since its inception in 2019, ABSG has played a pivotal role in shaping the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, integrating perspectives from individuals with lived experiences to inform policy and regulation.
Andrew Rhodes, CEO of the Gambling Commission, expressed his gratitude for the board’s work, noting that ABSG members provided critical insight and guidance that influenced regulatory decisions across the UK gambling sector. Helen Child, head of governance at the Commission, also emphasised the board’s contributions in fostering engagement and offering valuable challenge to policy discussions.
With the closure of ABSG, the Commission will establish a new expert group dedicated to research-led initiatives funded by the statutory levy. Introduced as part of reforms from the Gambling Act Review, the levy is a tax on gross gambling revenue used to fund education, treatment, and research programmes aimed at preventing gambling harms. The transition aims to better align regulatory oversight with evidence-based practices, ensuring that future interventions are informed by robust data and expert input.
Sources in the gambling harms space have noted that the roll-out of the statutory levy has caused disruption across existing research, education, and treatment initiatives, increasing pressure on organisations involved in this area. The creation of the new expert group is expected to streamline efforts, improve programme effectiveness, and strengthen harm reduction strategies.
This move represents a major evolution in UK gambling regulation, reflecting the Commission’s commitment to continuously improving player protection measures and adopting a research-driven framework for preventing gambling-related harm.
