GAMSTOP chair Jenny Watson is set to step down from her position with the organisation after seven years heading up the charity’s board.
Watson is expected to depart by September 2025, having served as the gambling-related harm charity’s chair since 2018.
She concurrently serves as a non-executive director for several organisations, including the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, Broadland Housing Group and the Enforcement Conduct Board.
Reflecting on the work of the charity, Watson said: “We have made significant progress in our mission to safeguard people from the harms of gambling addiction, positively impacting hundreds of thousands of lives.
“Our success is measured not only by the numbers but by the stories of transformation and recovery. Over the years, we have heard from many consumers who credit GAMSTOP with helping them regain control over their lives.
“These personal accounts are a powerful reminder of the importance of our work and the profound impact it has on individuals and their families. I am confident the organisation is well-positioned to achieve the important objective of making gambling safer for everyone”.
GAMSTOP has already begun its search for Watson’s successor, with an appointment expected to be made by the autumn.
Part of the role description posted by the charity via recruitment platform Starfish Search highlighted the need for candidates to maintain “total independence” from the gambling industry.
The advert noted: “Our next chair will join us at a time of continued growth and development for GAMSTOP Group, and during a period of major change within the sector itself. Gambling already has a high profile in the UK and the industry is frequently under the public and political spotlight.
“Within that context, this role has a critical stewardship, support and oversight function to play in an organisation which holds significant personal data.
“We are looking for an adroit and engaged chair with the highest degree of credibility, an understanding of rigorous governance and a genuine interest in what we are achieving.
“Our independence is important to us and the successful candidate will demonstrate total independence from the gambling industry.”
The chosen candidate will be paid £35,000 per year and is expected to commit two to three days a month to the role. The chair will also attend four board meetings a year, hosted in London and Harrogate.
The new chair will serve for an initial three-year term and will be eligible for reappointment on a further three-year contract.
According to GAMSTOP’s annual report published today, 29 April, 75% of customers have stopped gambling online after registering with the self-exclusion platform, while almost half of service users stated they no longer gamble in any capacity.
Across 2024, Gamstop recorded 99,186 new registrations, which represented a 7.7% increase in the when compared to 2023.
By the end of the year, the platform reached 532,484 total registrations, having surpassed the 500,000 milestone in September 2024.
In the report, Gamstop CEO Fiona Palmer confirmed that the statutory levy for the gambling industry, whereby 0.1% to 1.1% of operators’ gross gambling yield will be earmarked for gambling harm research, prevention and treatment, won’t alter the charity’s funding going forward.
Palmer added: “2024 has been a year focused on consolidation, review and long-term strategic planning as we navigate a new era of gambling harm prevention and treatment in the UK.
“While the newly announced funding mechanism for research, prevention and treatment in the UK does not impact our funding model, we anticipate several changes to the broader environment within which we work.
“Our priority remains delivering a clear, technically robust exclusion solution to those who need it most.”
The post GAMSTOP chair set to step down from role in September 2025 first appeared on EGR Intel.
Jenny Watson will leave her position at the gambling-related harm charity later this year, with her replacement expected to be in situ by the autumn
The post GAMSTOP chair set to step down from role in September 2025 first appeared on EGR Intel.