Kirsty Caldwell named interim chair of Gambling Commission Industry Forum

The Gambling Commission has announced a significant leadership appointment within its Industry Forum with the selection of Kirsty Caldwell as Interim Chair. The decision comes at a critical time for the regulator’s engagement with the gambling sector and shortly after a UK High Court decision dismissed a high profile civil privacy claim involving former industry executives.

This detailed report examines Caldwell’s appointment, her professional background, the role of the Industry Forum, the broader regulatory environment in the United Kingdom, the recent legal challenges involving former executives and how these developments shape the Commission’s work in 2026 and beyond.

Leadership transition at the Industry Forum

The Gambling Commission’s Industry Forum was established to provide a platform for regular dialogue between the regulator and experienced professionals from across the gambling industry. The forum serves as an advisory body offering insights into regulatory plans, operational challenges and broader market contexts that impact both regulated businesses and consumers.

In January 2026, the Commission confirmed that Kirsty Caldwell will serve as Interim Chair of the Industry Forum while it undertakes the process of recruiting a permanent successor to Nick Rust, whose term concluded in November 2025. Caldwell has been a member of the Industry Forum since March 2024, contributing to discussions on compliance and regulatory engagement.

The appointment of an interim leader is designed to ensure continuity in the forum’s work and to maintain constructive engagement with the gambling sector at a time when the Commission is navigating both regulatory reforms and complex legal considerations.

Professional background of Kirsty Caldwell

Kirsty Caldwell is widely recognised within the gambling industry for her expertise in regulatory compliance, risk management and anti‑money laundering frameworks. She founded Betsmart Consulting in 2019 and serves as its head. The firm provides advisory services to operators and stakeholders seeking to align their operations with evolving compliance expectations and regulatory standards.

Caldwell’s career spans a combination of senior in‑house compliance roles and advisory work. She began her professional journey in the compliance department of William Hill, where she worked her way through a variety of roles before becoming head of online compliance. Her experience includes leadership positions focused on governance, risk and compliance, as well as anti‑money laundering. She also previously served in a senior compliance position at Addison Global, working closely with operators across multiple jurisdictions.

Her deep industry experience and subject matter expertise have made her a respected figure in discussions covering regulatory change and industry best practice. Caldwell’s appointment as Interim Chair reflects industry confidence in her ability to lead the forum through a period of significant change.

The role and purpose of the Industry Forum

The Industry Forum was created as an advisory mechanism to give gambling operators a structured opportunity to share their perspectives with the Commission. Its membership includes senior figures from established gaming companies and service providers. The forum’s remit is to inform the Commission about industry views on topics including account management processes, data technologies, policy formulation and service delivery to operators and consumers.

Forum members are appointed for fixed terms of two to three years and serve without remuneration. They are expected to adhere to codes of conduct that govern confidentiality, professional integrity and transparency in their contributions. The forum does not make regulatory decisions but plays an important role in shaping the regulator’s understanding of operational realities faced by the industry.

The forum’s work has included regular meetings focused on compliance challenges, data analytics, market developments and communication between the regulator and industry stakeholders. These meetings have been conducted virtually and in person, enabling forum members to provide structured feedback and recommendations.

Contribution of the forum to regulatory engagement

Since its establishment, the Industry Forum has played a notable role in the Commission’s engagement with the gambling sector. The Commission uses input from the forum to refine its approach to policy consultation, implementation strategies and service delivery. This engagement is designed to balance regulatory objectives with industry operational realities and to support informed decision making based on a wide range of experiences and expertise.

The Gambling Commission has published financial figures showing the contributions of gambling duties and licensing fees to the UK Consolidated Fund. In the 2024/25 financial year these contributions amounted to a significant amount, underscoring the economic scale of the industry and the importance of collaborative regulatory dialogue.

Caldwell’s stated priorities for the Industry Forum

Upon her appointment as Interim Chair, Caldwell expressed her commitment to fostering constructive and transparent dialogue between the regulator and industry participants. She stated that she is “delighted to be taking on this role” and emphasised her ongoing dedication to “building a healthy, respected gambling sector.” She underlined the importance of cooperation and communication between regulators and industry stakeholders.

Her remarks reflect an approach that values iterative learning and ongoing consultation. “We may not get it right every time, but the important thing is we learn from our mistakes, we keep talking and we keep moving forwards,” she said.

This statement signals a willingness to engage with industry concerns, regulatory challenges and the complex dynamics that characterise modern gambling markets.

Regulatory context in the UK gambling market

The broader UK gambling market is undergoing a period of regulatory review and reform. The UK Gambling Act, originally passed in 2005 and subject to revisions, has been the foundation for the Commission’s regulatory framework. Reforms to the act are intended to address changes in technology, consumer behaviour and risks associated with online gambling. These reforms include updates to affordability checks, responsible gaming measures and the use of data analytics to identify harmful patterns of play.

Industry stakeholders have engaged with the Commission and government departments on these reforms. The forum provides a formal channel for feedback on how regulatory changes might affect operators and what implementation challenges may arise.

The forum’s membership has included senior executives from companies such as Merkur UK, Flutter Entertainment UK & Ireland, Entain UK & IRE, Betfred, BritBet, G.Games and The Rank Group. Collective insight from these diverse organisations helps shape the Commission’s understanding of the regulatory landscape and operational impacts on the sector.

Legal challenges involving former executives

The announcement of Caldwell’s interim chair role occurred shortly after the conclusion of a civil privacy claim against the Gambling Commission by two former industry executives, Kenneth Alexander and Lee Feldman. The pair were previously senior leaders at what is now Entain Plc, a major gambling operator. They filed their claim in October 2024 alleging that the Commission had misused private information and breached confidence during a regulatory intervention tied to a proposed acquisition involving 888 Holdings.

In January 2026, the UK High Court dismissed that civil claim and ordered the claimants to pay the Commission’s costs. The court’s dismissal means that the privacy allegations were not upheld. This outcome supports the regulator’s position that its actions were consistent with its statutory duties and public interest considerations.

The legal backdrop to the claim involved a separate criminal investigation and deferred prosecution agreement connected to historic issues in the Turkish market. These matters have been widely reported and continue to be part of the broader environment in which the Gambling Commission operates.

Broader leadership and governance at the Commission

The Gambling Commission itself has undergone leadership changes in recent years. The development of advisory bodies including the Industry Forum, the Lived Experience Panel, the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling and the Digital Advisory Panel reflects an effort to engage multiple stakeholders in regulatory governance. These bodies support the Commission’s evidence based approach and help ensure that diverse perspectives are considered in policy development and implementation.

Looking ahead for the Industry Forum and interim leadership

As the Commission continues recruitment for a permanent chair, the role of Interim Chair held by Caldwell will be pivotal. Maintaining momentum in engagement, balancing industry perspectives with regulatory objectives and overseeing the forum’s operations are central to her interim responsibilities.

The forum’s ongoing work includes reviewing feedback from industry members, identifying practical challenges associated with regulatory changes and helping the Commission refine its approach to service delivery and policy implementation. This advisory role supports the Commission’s mission to uphold standards that protect consumers while allowing compliant businesses to operate effectively.

The appointment of an interim leader at a time of regulatory change highlights the importance of continuity in governance and consultation. With Caldwell’s extensive experience in compliance and industry engagement, the forum is positioned to continue its collaborative contributions to the regulatory landscape in the UK.

Conclusion

The appointment of Kirsty Caldwell as Interim Chair of the Gambling Commission’s Industry Forum marks an important transition within the regulator’s advisory ecosystem. Her leadership comes during a period of regulatory reform, organisational change and complex legal matters involving industry executives. Caldwell’s background in compliance, her role at Betsmart Consulting and her ongoing engagement with the forum’s members uniquely qualify her to guide industry dialogue in the months ahead.

Her emphasis on cooperation, communication and iterative learning aligns with the Commission’s broader objective to engage constructively with industry stakeholders. As regulatory reforms progress and the Commission recruits a permanent chair, Caldwell’s interim stewardship will play a valuable role in advancing effective dialogue between the regulator and the gambling sector.

FAQs

Who is Kirsty Caldwell and what role has she been appointed to at the Gambling Commission?
Kirsty Caldwell is the founder and head of Betsmart Consulting and has been appointed Interim Chair of the Gambling Commission’s Industry Forum while recruitment for a permanent chair is underway.

What is the purpose of the Gambling Commission’s Industry Forum?
The Industry Forum serves as an advisory body bringing together experienced professionals from across the gambling industry to provide insight into regulatory plans, industry challenges and service delivery matters.

Why was Caldwell chosen as interim chair of the Industry Forum?
Caldwell has been a member of the forum since its establishment and her extensive experience in regulatory compliance and industry engagement made her a suitable choice to lead the forum on an interim basis.

What is Betsmart Consulting and what is Caldwell’s role there?
Betsmart Consulting is an advisory firm specialising in regulatory compliance and industry standards in the gambling sector and Kirsty Caldwell is its founder and head.

How does the Industry Forum influence gambling regulation in the UK?
The forum offers structured feedback to the Gambling Commission on industry perspectives relating to policy formulation, technology, compliance and market developments helping the regulator to understand real world challenges.

Was there a legal case connected to the Gambling Commission that is mentioned in relation to this appointment?
Yes a civil privacy claim brought by former industry executives against the Gambling Commission was dismissed in the High Court in January 2026 reinforcing the regulator’s actions.

What kinds of professionals make up the Industry Forum membership?
The forum includes senior executives from gambling operators and services providers covering areas such as compliance media public affairs and customer operations.

How long will Caldwell serve as Interim Chair of the Industry Forum?
She will serve in this interim position while the Commission conducts the recruitment process for a permanent chair.

Has the Industry Forum met regularly since its formation?
Yes the forum has met multiple times since its inception with regular sessions where members discuss key topics and provide feedback to the Commission.

Why is regulatory engagement between industry and the regulator important?
Regular engagement helps the regulator understand operational realities faced by businesses supports better policy decisions and fosters compliance improvements while protecting consumers.