Chair Marcus Boyle Steps Down, Successor Yet to Be Determined
The UK Gambling Commission has announced that its current Chair, Marcus Boyle, will be stepping down from the role at the end of January 2025. During his three-year tenure, Boyle oversaw key milestones and projects. A successor hasn’t yet been officially confirmed.
New UKGC Chair to Start Role in February 2025
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced that Marcus Boyle, its current Chair, will be leaving the role on 31st January 2025. When he steps down, he will have been the Chair for three years.
In his role as Chair of the UK Gambling Commission, Boyle has overseen various regulatory developments and been in charge of the organisation’s governance. His replacement, currently unconfirmed, will take over on 1st February.
Boyle’s History and Key UKGC Developments
Boyle was appointed as the Chair of the UKGC back in April 2021 by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). His predecessor was Bill Moyes, who had been in the role since 2016.
When Boyle started, he was a key figure in the British arts, drama and cultural heritage sector and had already gained an impressive reputation. One of the key projects during his tenure was the development of the fourth National Lottery licence.
Another important project that Boyle oversaw during his time as Chair was the introduction of the Gambling Act Review and its associated White Paper. This was started in April 2024 and was recently completed.
It involved the creation and publication of a detailed strategy covering the next three years (2025 to 2027), highlighting key protocols and policies while focusing on the use of data and maintaining transparency with the public.
Boyle also worked with the CEO Andrew Rhodes to double down on compliance measures, taking a rather strict approach to imposing penalties and fines on licensed UK operators. These included some record-breaking amounts of money.
The UKGC has recently set new rules for stake amounts in online slots. Those aged 18-24 can wager a maximum of £2 per spin; for players aged 25 and above, the limit increases to £5.
The organisation has also settled some important terms for the RET (research, education and treatment) Levy funding allocations. Thanks to this, there will be £100 million in funding for various problem gambling programs from now on.
Looking to the Future
The UKGC is in a very strong place right now, having successfully completed recent projects and outlined a clear, focused plan for the next three years. Despite Boyle leaving, the organisation should continue going from strength to strength.
Baroness Twycross, the Minister for Gambling, has said the following about Boyle’s tenure:
The past three years have been very significant for the Commission, as it takes forward measures set out in the Gambling Act Review and begins the process of the fourth National Lottery licence. I am grateful for Marcus’s hard work and commitment to the Gambling Commission and public service during his tenure, and I wish him the best for his future endeavours.– Baroness Twycross, Minister for Gambling, Gambling Minister Comments on UKGC Chair’s Departure, SBC News
Various colleagues of Boyle’s from the UKGC and members of the Board of Commissioners have also spoken positively about his tenure and wish him well for all his future work.
