Ex-BHA CEO joins Gambling Commission’s Industry Forum as inaugural chair
Nick Rust to lead group on two-year term as regulator looks to glean further insight from operators and industry figures
The Gambling Commission (GC) has appointed former British Horseracing Authority CEO Nick Rust as the chair of its new Industry Forum.
Rust will serve as chair of the forum for two years and will begin his role this month.
The GC confirmed the launch of the Industry Forum in September, with a view to bringing operators’ insights to the fore.
The forum will be made up of representatives from the gambling sector, with those individuals yet to be confirmed by the regulator.
Rust, who served as CEO of the British Horseracing Authority for six years, is the current chair of the Starting Price Regulatory Commission and a non-executive director of Redcar Racecourse.
At last month’s Reputation Matters conference in London, Rust called on the GC to take a more proactive approach to dealing with the black market.
He said: “The Gambling Commission says warning of such activity is considerably overblown, and implies it is industry propaganda.
“If such ignorance and complacency mean the Commission does not make adequate plans to deal with this black market, its position will in itself cause preventable harm to those at risk of problem gambling.”
Marcus Boyle, GC chair, said: “I am delighted that Nick has been appointed as the inaugural chair of the Commission’s Industry Forum.
“Nick’s extensive knowledge of the gambling sector makes him a valuable asset, and I am confident he will work with us to create a productive and insightful Industry Forum,” he added.
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