The United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission (UKGC) has appointed Nick Rust as the chairman of its Industry Forum, with Rust set to begin his two-year term in November. The Industry Forum will consist of members from the UK gambling sector and will provide insight into how the industry feels about the Commission’s regulatory plans.
Rust brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as the chief executive officer of the British Horseracing Authority for six years and currently holding positions as the chairman of the Starting Price Regulatory Commission and a non-executive director of Redcar Racecourse. He is also a founding partner of GVS EQ, a company specializing in equine sports, and a trustee of the Injured Jockeys Fund.
Marcus Boyle, the UKGC’s chairman, expressed his excitement about Rust’s appointment, highlighting his extensive knowledge of the gambling sector and emphasizing his belief that Rust’s input will be invaluable.
Moving forward, the UKGC is working towards implementing the measures outlined in the Gambling Act white paper. However, the Commission’s plans to introduce affordability checks have been met with opposition from both consumers and gambling companies. A petition with nearly 75,000 signatures is urging the government to abandon the affordability checks, with gamblers arguing that the measures would make their hobby unsustainable despite reassurances from the UKGC.
Andrew Rhodes from the UKGC has been vocal about what he perceives as intentional efforts to misinform the public about the nature of the checks. At the recent IAGR conference, he criticized these efforts, stating that they are attempting to “muddy the waters of debate and to torpedo the implementation.”