Ruth Evans named British Gambling Commission chair
The gambling regulator had been without a permanent chair for 20 months.
Key takeaways:
- Ruth Evans as the new chair of the British Gambling Commission.
- She is currently chair of Stop Scams UK and of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board.
- Charles Counsell OBE had been serving as interim chair since February 2025.
UK.- The UK government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced the appointment of Ruth Evans as the new chair of the British Gambling Commission. She is best known for her work against fraud and financial crime, most recently as the chair of Stop Scams UK, a collaboration between banks, tech companies and telecoms firms.
In 2018, Evans chaired the steering group that created a voluntary industry code to reimburse victims of Authorised Push Payment (APP) bank transfer scams. She has also recently been appointed as chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board.
She has previously served in high-profile leadership positions across charities, public regulatory bodies, and financial oversight boards, including as chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), which oversees MPs’ pay and expenses. She was the first Chair of the Bar Standards Board, spent nine years as a Lay Member of the General Medical Council chairing its Standards and Ethics Committee and served as a non-executive director for the Serious Fraud Office.
Evans steps into a position that has been vacant since Marcus Boyle stepped down in January 2025. Charles Counsell OBE has been serving on an interim basis since February 2025. The Gambling Commission is still seeking a new CEO and executive director following the departures of Andrew Rhodes in April and Tim Miller this month.
Evans said in a statement published today: “I am delighted to have been appointed Chair of the Gambling Commission at a time when its role in keeping gambling fair, safe and crime-free is more important than ever. Throughout my career in consumer protection, I have seen that the best outcomes are achieved through effective collaboration between regulators, industry and the technology sector.’
“I look forward to working with the Commission to encourage online safety for UK citizens that strengthens consumer protections while supporting a responsible, innovative and sustainable gambling sector. By combining proportionate regulation with partnership and shared responsibility, we can build greater public confidence and create lasting benefits for consumers and the wider economy.”
DCMS Secretary of State Lisa Nandy said: “I am pleased to announce Ruth Evans as the incoming chair of the Gambling Commission. She becomes Chair at this incredibly important time, supporting a sustainable, thriving industry with the essential protections needed to prevent harm. “I would also like to thank Charles Counsell OBE for his leadership of the Gambling Commission since February 2025. He has been a passionate and diligent Chair, and we owe him our gratitude.”
Under the Gambling Act 2005, the appointment of the Gambling Commission chair is made by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. An Advisory Assessment Panel included a senior departmental official and a Senior Independent Panel Member approved by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The position of chair is remunerated at £85,000 per annum for an expected time commitment of two days per week.
