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Ruth Evans named chair of Gambling Commission after long interim period

Ruth Evans will take over as chair of the Gambling Commission on 30 September after a 20 month period of temporary leadership.

Written by the BettingEdgeHub desk, 8 September 2026

The UK government has appointed consumer protection specialist Ruth Evans as the new chair of the Gambling Commission. She starts her five year term on 30 September. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed the appointment under powers set out in the Gambling Act 2005. Nandy thanked outgoing interim leader Charles Counsell for leading the regulator since February 2025.

A background in consumer safety

Evans brings four decades of experience across regulatory and consumer protection roles. She has chaired Stop Scams UK and held senior roles with the Bar Standards Board and the Serious Fraud Office. The recruitment campaign stated that candidates did not need direct experience in the gambling industry or harm prevention. The role requires commanding the confidence of operators while maintaining complete independence.

Ending a long period of temporary leadership

The regulator operated without a permanent chair after Marcus Boyle left on 31 January 2025. Charles Counsell took over on 1 February 2025 for an initial nine month term that stretched to nearly 20 months. The government ran two separate recruitment competitions to fill the post. The first campaign began in April 2025, while the second opened in January 2026 with higher pay and a longer term.

Focus on collaboration and online protection

Evans highlighted that her work in consumer rights taught her the value of cooperation. She plans to focus on keeping gambling fair, safe and crime free while protecting UK citizens online. She emphasized that successful outcomes come from shared responsibility between regulators, industry and technology firms.