The UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced the appointment of Madeleine Campbell as a new board member of the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB).
Campbell will serve in the role for a period of four years. This commenced on 1 January and will run through to 31 December 2029.
An expert in animal welfare science, ethics and law, Campbell has served in several positions within this area. She is currently professor of veterinary ethics at the University of Nottingham.
Campbell chairs the British Equestrian Federation’s Ethics and Welfare Advisory Group and Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s Welfare and Veterinary Standing Committee.
She is also an independent member of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports Welfare and Ethics Advisory Group. In addition, she served as an independent member of the British Horseracing Authority ethics panel.
Cambell was appointed to the HBLB with the approval of Lisa Nandy, secretary of state for culture, media and sport.
Changing face of UK gambling regulation
The appointment comes at a time of significant change for the UK gambling sector. During recent months, the government and the Gambling Commission have announced a series of new and amended regulations.
The stand-out development was a change in gambling tax, set out by the government in late November. This will see remote general betting duty increase from 15% to 25% in April 2027, with remote gaming duty to rise from 21% to 40% in April 2026.
Operators have, unsurprisingly, reacted negatively to the news, raising a host of concerns such as impact on retail operations and the potential rise in illegal gambling should licensed operators exit the market in response to higher tax. The Betting and Gaming Council went as far as to say it was a “hammer blow” to the UK industry.
Also new in 2025 was the statutory levy, which came into effect on 6 April. This was after it was included in the previous government’s Gambling Act white paper. The levy applies to all UK-licensed operators, with rates differing depending on the type of licence they hold.
The scheme generated a total of £120 million ($161 million) during its first nine months of implementation. Late last month, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport set out how this would be split across the research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm.
Another change that will come into effect this month are new rules on promotions. From 19 January, operators must ensure they comply with the new rules, which include a ban on cross-selling promotions between verticals.
Campbell chairs the British Equestrian Federation’s Ethics and Welfare Advisory Group.