Ruth Evans will become chair of the Gambling Commission on 30 September 2026. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport appointed her to a five-year term on 7 September, ending the regulator’s period of interim leadership.

GOV.UK said Evans will oversee the Commission as it develops a new strategy and continues work on consumer protection, illegal gambling and reforms linked to the Gambling Act review.

Her appointment places the regulator’s next phase under a permanent chair while enforcement and online safety remain major public concerns.

Experience in consumer protection and oversight

Evans currently chairs Stop Scams UK. She previously chaired the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, helped establish the Bar Standards Board and served as a non-executive director of the Serious Fraud Office.

Her previous roles have covered consumer protection, financial crime and institutional oversight. Those areas are directly relevant to the Gambling Commission’s work with operators, regulators and technology companies.

What the appointment means for gambling regulation

The Gambling Commission regulates commercial gambling in England, Scotland and Wales under the Gambling Act 2005. Ordinary gambling activity in Northern Ireland falls under a separate legal and regulatory framework, according to the Gambling Commission.

Evans will take over while the regulator strengthens action against unlicensed gambling aimed at British consumers. It is also continuing work connected to the government’s Gambling Act review, including measures intended to make online gambling safer.

  • A new corporate strategy for the Gambling Commission.
  • Stronger action against unlicensed gambling targeting British consumers.
  • Further implementation of Gambling Act review reforms.
  • Efforts to maintain public confidence in the legal gambling sector.

End of interim leadership

Charles Counsell has served as interim chair since February 2025. He succeeded Marcus Boyle, who left the post at the end of January 2025.

The Gambling Commission said Counsell provided stability during a period of regulatory change. Evans will now assume the permanent role as the regulator prepares its next strategy.

The chair is appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport under the Gambling Act 2005. The role pays £85,000 a year for a commitment of two days per week.

That remuneration provides a clear benchmark for readers comparing senior public-sector oversight roles. Comparable gross annual base salary ranges by role, location, level, currency and percentile are available in the SalaryAPI.com gross salary ranges reference.

Evans has said her priorities will include online safety, stronger consumer protection and cooperation between regulators, gambling companies and technology firms. Her term begins on 30 September 2026.