Great Britain’s Gambling Commission has announced its Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG) will close after “completing its original remit”.
Established in 2008, the ABSG has advised the regulator on reducing gambling harms and ensuring safer gambling for 17 years. This was in line with its National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms.
However, the strategy has now concluded and, according to the commission, delivered its “key milestones”. The regulator added it will now focus on new arrangements “better aligned to the next phase of research and regulation”.
During its operating years, the ABSG contributed to several key developments in regulation. These included recognising gambling harms as a public health issue and helping establish the Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP).
The shift follows the introduction of the statutory levy, announced in November 2024. As part of the levy, responsibility for research and funding to prevent gambling harms has been shifted from GambleAware under the voluntary code, to government-appointed national healthcare bodies.
On the back of securing additional funding from the new levy, the Gambling Commission plans to establish a new research-focused expert group to support expanded research.
‘Huge contribution’ to gambling regulation
Gambling Commission Chief Executive Andrew Rhodes paid tribute to the ABSG in a statement by the regulator on 19 September. He said that while it played an “important” role in new regulation, it is the “right time” to end its operations.
“ABSG has played an important role in shaping how we think about gambling harms, and embedding lived experience perspectives into regulation,” Rhodes said.
“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.
“This is the right time to close ABSG and establish new arrangements that reflect the future needs of our gambling regulation and research.”
Helen Child, head of governance at the regulator, added: “ABSG 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.”
Another casualty of statutory levy
The ABSG is not the only responsible gambling setup to fall by the wayside in the wake of the statutory levy.
In July, GambleAware confirmed it will halt all activities and transition its work to the British government by the end of March 2026. It said this was following the introduction of the new levy.
GambleAware has, however, been supportive of the levy since it was proposed within the government’s white paper. All work historically delivered by the charity will transition to the government and new commissioners across England, Scotland and Wales.
The Gambling Commission did not confirm when the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling will close.