MERKUR Casino UK appoints Dan Whitlam to strengthen compliance leadership

MERKUR Casino UK is set to appoint Dan Whitlam as Head of Compliance from 28 September 2026. He will report to Chief Financial Officer Egemen Coskun and will take responsibility for regulatory compliance, safer gambling, player protection, anti-money laundering, financial crime prevention, data protection and governance. The appointment is part of a planned transition within the company’s compliance function.

The announcement comes as Amanda Kiernan prepares for her planned retirement in April 2027. MERKUR Casino UK said the timing is intended to support a structured handover and continuity across an important regulatory function. The appointment has also been reported as taking effect on 28 September 2026.

Dan Whitlam has worked across regulatory, safer gambling and operational roles. His professional background includes senior positions at the Gambling Commission and GamCare. The Gambling Commission identified Whitlam as its Director of Compliance in 2024 while GamCare material previously identified him in a senior safer gambling role.

That experience is relevant to a role covering both regulatory expectations and day-to-day implementation. At MERKUR Casino UK, Whitlam will be expected to provide strategic leadership and independent oversight while working with teams across the organisation.

The position is not limited to policy management. It encompasses the wider systems through which a gambling business monitors compliance, assesses regulatory risk and maintains clear governance over controls and procedures.

A broad compliance mandate

The new role covers several areas central to regulated gambling operations. Regulatory compliance and safer gambling sit alongside player protection, anti-money laundering and financial crime prevention.

Data protection is also included within the stated remit. The wider legal framework requires organisations handling customer information to maintain appropriate governance, security and accountability. The Information Commissioner's Office is the UK supervisory authority for data protection, making awareness of applicable privacy requirements an important part of the compliance landscape.

Governance adds another layer to the position. This includes clear responsibility for policies, monitoring, reporting and escalation processes. For a multi-site operator, consistent implementation can be particularly important because compliance controls must work across different locations and operating environments.

Engagement with regulators and local authorities

Dan Whitlam will also lead MERKUR Casino UK’s engagement with the Gambling Commission, local authorities and relevant industry bodies.

The Gambling Commission regulates commercial gambling in Great Britain under the Gambling Act 2005. Land-based operators can also have responsibilities involving local licensing authorities, making regulatory engagement a significant component of senior compliance work.

MERKUR Casino UK operates gaming and leisure venues across the UK alongside its casino and bingo activities. Public information from the MERKUR Group states that the UK business has continued to expand through acquisitions and now operates more than 230 gaming and leisure venues.

Against that operational background, the compliance function has to coordinate standards across a broad estate. The appointment therefore places Whitlam close to both regulatory strategy and practical implementation.

Succession planning and continuity

Chief Operating Officer Mark Schertle said: “This is part of the company’s succession planning ahead of Amanda Kiernan’s retirement in April 2027. The timing provides for a structured handover and continuity within this important function.”

He continued: “Dan brings extensive compliance experience gained from working with several major organisations within the gaming industry, as well as the Gambling Commission.

The company’s explanation frames the appointment as a planned succession process. This provides an opportunity for knowledge transfer before Kiernan’s retirement and gives the incoming compliance leader time to become familiar with existing systems and responsibilities.

Kiernan has held the Head of Compliance role within the organisation and has previously described responsibility across internal audit, risk, fraud management and regulatory compliance.

Egemen Coskun highlights regulatory knowledge

Chief Financial Officer Egemen Coskun added “Dan brings strong knowledge of gaming regulation, regulatory risk, safer gambling and player protection, together with experience of working with regulators and other key stakeholders. His background will help MERKUR Casino UK continue to develop its compliance strategy and respond effectively to the changing regulatory environment.

“This appointment demonstrates our continued commitment to strong compliance leadership and independent oversight and also reflects the importance we place on maintaining high standards, protecting vulnerable customers and ensuring that regulatory requirements are embedded consistently across all areas of the business.”

The comments underline the intended connection between compliance leadership and operational governance. The role will cover regulatory matters while also supporting the consistent application of controls across the business.

Whitlam sets out his approach

Looking ahead to the next chapter in his career Dan Whitlam said: “MERKUR is already a strong and ambitious business with an excellent compliance culture, so I’m really looking forward to working with colleagues across the organisation, building on what is already in place and helping to push standards even higher.

“I want to combine the insight I gained from my time at the Gambling Commission and GamCare, with my previous operational and player protection experience, to help MERKUR continue to develop a compliance framework that is robust, proportionate and practical.

“For me, the best compliance functions are not there simply to say no or to police the rest of the business. They should understand the operation, identify risk early, help the business find solutions and ultimately enable it to grow sustainably while maintaining high standards of player protection.”

The approach described by Whitlam focuses on early risk identification, practical controls and cooperation between compliance specialists and operational teams. That perspective is particularly relevant in a sector where regulatory requirements need to be translated into procedures that staff can apply consistently.

The emphasis on early risk identification also places attention on how controls perform in practice. For operators subject to regulatory oversight, maintaining suitable policies is only one element of a broader compliance framework that can include training, monitoring, record keeping and internal governance.

What the appointment means for MERKUR Casino UK

The timing gives MERKUR Casino UK a defined period for transition before Kiernan’s planned retirement in April 2027. During that period, the company can maintain continuity while Whitlam takes responsibility for the compliance agenda.

For the wider business, the appointment brings experience connected with gambling regulation, safer gambling and player protection into a role that also covers financial crime, data protection and governance.

As regulatory requirements evolve, the practical challenge for operators is to keep internal frameworks aligned with applicable rules while maintaining clear accountability. The role assigned to Dan Whitlam places those responsibilities within a single senior compliance function and gives him a broad remit across MERKUR Casino UK’s operations.

The appointment does not itself indicate a change to the company’s existing regulatory obligations. Rather, the stated purpose is to support continuity and further develop the compliance framework during a period of leadership transition.

Conclusion

Dan Whitlam’s appointment as Head of Compliance at MERKUR Casino UK represents a planned leadership transition within a function with wide regulatory responsibilities.

Effective from 28 September 2026, the role will cover compliance, safer gambling, player protection, anti-money laundering, financial crime prevention, data protection and governance. It will also involve engagement with the Gambling Commission, local authorities and other relevant industry bodies.

The company has presented the move as part of succession planning ahead of Amanda Kiernan’s planned retirement in April 2027. Whitlam’s background across the Gambling Commission, GamCare and operational compliance provides the experience identified by the company as relevant to the position.

The next phase will centre on continuity, governance and the practical application of compliance controls across the business. Based on the stated responsibilities and management comments, the appointment is intended to provide structured oversight while supporting the further development of MERKUR Casino UK’s compliance framework.

FAQs

Who is Dan Whitlam?
Dan Whitlam is a compliance professional whose background includes work with the Gambling Commission and GamCare. He is scheduled to join MERKUR Casino UK as Head of Compliance on 28 September 2026.

When will Dan Whitlam join MERKUR Casino UK?
Dan Whitlam is scheduled to take up the Head of Compliance position on 28 September 2026.

Who will Dan Whitlam report to?
Dan Whitlam will report to MERKUR Casino UK Chief Financial Officer Egemen Coskun.

What will Dan Whitlam oversee at MERKUR Casino UK?
His remit will include regulatory compliance, safer gambling, player protection, anti-money laundering, financial crime prevention, data protection and governance.

Will Dan Whitlam work with the Gambling Commission?
Yes. His responsibilities include leading MERKUR Casino UK’s engagement with the Gambling Commission as well as with local authorities and relevant industry bodies.

Why is MERKUR Casino UK appointing a new Head of Compliance?
The company has said the appointment forms part of succession planning ahead of Amanda Kiernan’s planned retirement in April 2027. The timing is intended to allow for a structured handover and continuity.

What experience does Dan Whitlam bring to the role?
His background includes compliance and safer gambling work involving the Gambling Commission and GamCare as well as previous operational and player protection experience.

What is the role of safer gambling in the appointment?
Safer gambling is one of the areas included in Whitlam’s formal remit. The role is also connected to player protection and the wider compliance framework.

Will data protection form part of his responsibilities?
Yes. Data protection is specifically included among the areas covered by the Head of Compliance role.

What does the appointment mean for MERKUR Casino UK?
The appointment is intended to provide continuity during a planned leadership transition while supporting the company’s stated objective of maintaining and developing its compliance framework across its UK operations.