TLDR Andrew Rhodes has left his role as CEO of the UK Gambling Commission after nearly five years, announcing his departure on LinkedIn on April 30. His tenure was defined by the push for affordability checks on gamblers, which faced strong opposition from bookmakers, horse racing bodies, and politicians. Rhodes oversaw new online slot stake caps of £5 for over-25s and £2 for 18-to-24-year-olds, along with bans on autoplay features. He managed the first-ever transfer of the National Lottery license, moving it from Camelot to Allwyn in February 2024. Rhodes leaves as the industry faces a Remote Gaming Duty increase from 21% to 40%, with bookmakers warning of shop closures and job losses.
Andrew Rhodes has stepped down as chief executive of the UK Gambling Commission after nearly five years in the role. He announced his departure in a LinkedIn post on April 30, joking that he could finally play the National Lottery again.
Rhodes took over the UKGC in June 2021 during a period of crisis. His predecessor, Neil McArthur, had resigned under pressure following the collapse of Football Index, a licensed product that left customers unable to access an estimated £100 million in funds.
He initially joined on an interim basis. Rhodes has said the original phone call was to ask him for suggestions on who might want the job before he decided to take it himself.
Rhodes had no professional background in the gambling industry. He came from the senior civil service, having held roles in Whitehall and served as COO of the Food Standards Agency.
The Fight Over Affordability Checks
The biggest battle of his time at the UKGC was over affordability checks. The idea was for operators to step in when someone gambles at a level that could cause financial harm.
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