Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst has stated that the UK gambling industry must focus on delivering “stability, growth and diversity” across the sector as white paper proposals are implemented.
Hurst’s comments come as she officially becomes the new CEO of the BGC after being confirmed for the role in April, joining the organisation from Entain where she had been Group Corporate Affairs Director since March 2018.
Her appointment was also part of a wider restructuring of the BGC’s senior leadership, with former CEO Michael Dugher becoming Chair after Brigid Simmonds stepped down from the position in April.
Making her first comments as BGC CEO, Hurst committed to delivering the white paper to help bring stability, growth and diversity to the UK gambling sector.
“I’m absolutely delighted to get started as CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council, the industry champion for so many iconic brands, at home in the UK and around the world,” Hurst said.
“This is a crucial time for the BGC’s diverse and growing membership, which supports 110,000 jobs and caters to millions of customers who enjoy a bet each month in the UK. There is a huge amount of work ahead of us, not least delivering and implementing the outstanding proposals outlined in last year’s White Paper, many of which our members called for.
“That includes a statutory levy to address problem gambling and related harms, an Ombudsman for improved consumer redress, online financial risk checks carefully targeted on those at risk, new stake limits for online slots, a Sports Sponsorship Code, plus mission-critical modernisation proposals for the land-based casino sector.
“While achieving regulatory certainty after a period of so much change is top of my priority list, it is important for our industry to focus on stability, growth and diversity across the sector. That work must be underpinned by strong data and guided throughout by the voice of the everyday consumer.”
Hurst also thanked her predecessor Dugher for his work as CEO, stating: “My huge thanks go to Michael Dugher for his amazing work so far getting the BGC to where it is today, I’m really looking forward to working alongside Michael in his new role as BGC Chair.
“I would also like to thank all of the BGC’s members for their support and, alongside the excellent BGC team, I look forward to championing our world-class members, on hard-pressed high streets, in the land-based sector and online.
“Our members are rightly proud of their vital role in the UK entertainment industry, and the significant part they play supporting the local and national economies through tax and high-value jobs. Millions of us enjoy a bet, in bookmakers, in casinos and online and I look forward to championing everything our members do, for their customers, communities and the country.”
Hurst brings significant betting and gaming sector experience to the BGC having held several senior roles in land-based and online sectors.
At Entain, she led the company’s activities and relationships with the government and the public sector, successfully spearheading the company’s rebrand from GVC. She was also an Entain Foundation board member and helped to create and deliver its global safer gambling strategy, ‘Changing for the Bettor’.
In addition, Hurst has helped to establish the international arm of Global Gaming Women, where she is a board member, overseeing the charity’s expansion to the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
She was also previously a special advisor to the UK government and studied at King’s College London and Queen Mary University in London.
Commenting on Hurst’s appointment, Dugher added: “On behalf of the entire BGC membership, I’d like to warmly welcome Grainne as she officially starts as CEO. She brings years of experience and knowledge in the regulated industry, together with a bold vision and strategy to refresh and reset the organisation going forward.
“I look forward to working with Grainne in my new role as Chair, and the rest of the outstanding BGC team, as we continue to represent thousands of workers and millions of customers, as well as delivering on our mission to raise standards in safer gambling.”
