The UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed Ruth Evans as Chair of the Gambling Commission. She takes up the role on 30 September for a five-year term, replacing Charles Counsell, who served as interim chair from February following Marcus Boyle's departure in January.
Evans brings over forty years of experience in regulation and consumer protection. She currently leads Stop Scams UK, a coalition of banks, tech and telecom companies tackling fraud. In 2018 she chaired the group that developed the voluntary industry code for reimbursing victims of authorised push payment scams. Her previous roles include chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and the Bar Standards Board, and board member at the General Medical Council and Serious Fraud Office.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said Evans arrives at a critical moment when the industry needs to balance sustainable growth with protection from risk. Evans said the best consumer protection outcomes come through collaboration between regulators, industry and the tech sector.
The appointment comes as the Commission develops its new strategy, steps up enforcement against illegal gambling and wraps up implementation of the Gambling Act review. Counsell called Evans's regulatory and consumer protection record critical for the Commission's work on safety and fairness.
