Andrew Rhodes departs UK Gambling Commission after five years

Andrew Rhodes left the UK Gambling Commission on April 30 after nearly five years as chief executive. He joined the regulator as interim chief in June 2021 and became permanent in 2022.

Rhodes led a program of regulatory changes that included a pilot of affordability checks for higher-spending customers, new limits on online slot stakes and the transfer of the National Lottery licence to a new operator.

The affordability pilot began in August 2024 for customers with monthly deposits of £500 or more. A lower threshold was introduced in early 2025. The pilot phase ended in early 2026 and the commission is reviewing pilot results plus wider survey data before deciding on full implementation.

Bookmakers and horse racing organisations opposed the checks. Racing bodies estimated the measures could reduce betting on regulated platforms and cut levy income by about £250 million over five years. Rhodes told a parliamentary committee he had not seen evidence that checks would cause large-scale migration to unregulated sites and accused some groups of “deliberate misinformation designed to muddy the waters of debate and to torpedo the implementation of government policy.”

The commission set online slot stake limits at £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 per spin for players aged 18 to 24. The regulator also banned autoplay features and other mechanics judged to accelerate play or create an illusion of control. The commission monitored return-to-player rates across operators but did not take a formal position on RTP adjustments.

The transfer of the National Lottery licence from Camelot to Allwyn began in 2024, with Allwyn starting operations in February 2024. Parliamentarians scrutinised the licence award and handover. The commission completed the first change of lottery operator in the lottery’s 30-year history without reported large-scale operational failures.

Tax and market changes occurred during Rhodes’s tenure. Remote Gaming Duty on online casinos rose from 21% to 40% recently. Some operators announced exits from parts of the market. Trade bodies and major bookmakers warned that tighter rules and higher taxes could lead to job losses and closures of high street betting shops.

On his final day, Rhodes wrote on LinkedIn: “It’s often a difficult role in an environment with such strongly competing and differing views.” He added that, after abstaining from playing the National Lottery while in office, he could now play again. After leaving the commission he joined a gambling-focused law firm as a consultant.

The next chief executive will take over while key reforms remain mid-implementation and while the commission continues to review data from pilots and surveys.