Britain’s Gambling Commission is winding down the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG) following the completion of its original remit.
The board was established to provide oversight and challenge in relation to the regulator’s National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, a three-year plan launched in April 2019 and running until April 2022.
Following the conclusion of that plan and the delivery of key milestones, the commission has decided now is the right time to close the advisory board and focus on new ways to better align the next phase of research and regulation.
During the course of its work, the advisory board contributed to several key developments in gambling regulation, including recognising gambling harms as a public health issue, establishing the Lived Experience Advisory Panel, and introducing a statutory levy to fund independent research, education and treatment.
The Commission will now initiate the process of establishing a new research-focused expert group.
“ABSG has played an important role in shaping how we think about gambling harms, and embedding lived experience perspectives into regulation. I want to thank all current and former members for their contribution and commitment,” said Gambling Commission CEO Andrew Rhodes.
“As we move into a new phase with the implementation of research programmes funded by the statutory levy, our priority is to ensure we have the right expert input to help inform our work. This is the right time to close ABSG and establish new arrangements that reflect the future needs of our gambling regulation and research.”
Helen Child, head of governance at the Gambling Commission, added: “ABSG have made a huge contribution to gambling regulation and the Commission. I am grateful for the insight, engagement and challenge each and every member has provided.”