The UK Gambling Commission has announced the closure of the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG) following the completion of its original remit and the delivery of key milestones.
ABSG was established to provide oversight and challenge in relation to the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms. With the conclusion of that strategy, the Commission has decided that this is the right time to bring ABSG’s work to an end and to move towards new arrangements better aligned with the next phase of research and regulation.
Over the course of its activity, ABSG contributed to several significant developments in UK gambling regulation, including:
- Recognition of gambling harms as a public health issue.
- Ensuring the voices of people with lived experience are incorporated into policy and regulation through the creation of the Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP).
- Supporting the introduction of the statutory levy to fund independent research, education and treatment.
The Commission will now begin work to establish a new research-focused expert group to support the expanded role of research made possible through levy funding.
Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, said:
“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. 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.”
Helen Child, Head of Governance, 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.”
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