Written by Jon Bryan | Expected reading time 4 minutes
Last Updated: April 29, 2026
Written by Jon Bryan
Jon Bryan, writing for SlotsHawk, examines recent discussions about a key point of contention in gambling reform.
A NEW CHAIR
Last week, the Betting and Gaming Council – the trade body for the gambling industry – released this statement:
“The Board of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has appointed Kane Purdy, Managing Director at Gamesys Operations Limited, as the new non-executive Chair of the trade body with immediate effect.”
The announcement follows the departure earlier in the year of Michael Dugher, and Purdy’s appointment comes just two months since the BGC’s Annual General Meeting.
A SMART MOVE
The appointment of Purdy has been well received by those who know him. Warm words of welcome and encouragement on LinkedIn were aimed at Purdy when the appointment was made. There were congratulations for the new Chair, with ‘Excellent Choice’, ‘Phenomenal appointment’ and ‘Welcome and good luck’ among the reactions of the industry.
In an era where the gambling industry and gamblers have been under sustained criticism, Purdy will have his hands full. It’s possible that this appointment shows a different approach by the BGC and is a reaction to the difficult environment created by the UK government over the last six months.
There is no doubting Purdy’s experience, knowledge and understanding of the sector, and it will be interesting to see how he combines with CEO Grainne Hurst’s expertise and leadership. In a year where the industry is expected to lose jobs, as well as some of its market share to the unregulated sector, it is difficult terrain to step into.
A CHANGE IN STRUCTURE AND LEADERSHIP
One of the features of the announcement which has not received much comment has been the change in title and the different structure at the BGC.
While the dropping of three letters – changing ‘Chairman’ to ‘Chair’ – may not seem like a big deal, it perhaps shows an awareness that the previous title belonged to a bit of a bygone age. I’m involved in several organisations where there is a ‘Chair’, as opposed to a ‘Chairman’, and it has become standard terminology for many. It is perhaps an indication of the work that the BGC has done on equality initiatives recently, as well as the work that CEO Grainne Hurst has been leading on. It was probably good timing to make this change to coincide with the appointment of Purdy.
The other change is to do with the terms of the appointment of the Chair, with the BGC indicating in their announcement:
“The Chair position will be filled on a rotating basis by BGC members, with each term lasting 12 months.”
This is a change in both role and structure, but it has not received much commentary. I could only find Eva Carter, a journalist for iGaming, who has looked at this in any detail.
A ROTATING CHAIR AND THE IMPACT
There are advantages and disadvantages with this set-up, and several organisations have rotating chairs. Rather than going through the various reasons for different structures, it is probably best to consider what the impact of this change might be, which no doubt will become more apparent over time.
We might see a closer relationship between the experiences of the industry and the voice and direction of the Betting and Gaming Council. The BGC has already increased its input into the media space this year, and the number of releases is encouraging.
One of its latest initiatives – “Myth Busters” – aims to tackle the stories and statistics we hear in the mainstream media head-on. Directly challenging speeches and comments from MPs is also a good approach. More of that would be welcome.
If you work in the sector, it can’t be nice to continually hear politicians and commentators bad-mouth what you do. If Purdy can bring his industry experience to assist in this for the next twelve months, it will be no bad thing for gambling and gamblers.
Having just a year to make an impression may not seem like very long, but it will have advantages. Those who take up the role will want to make sure that they get something done, and it will be clear what the timeframe is to make that change. This might be limiting for some, but perhaps it also tells us about the scope for change that’s being carved out for the BGC Chair.
THE FUTURE
I wish Kane Purdy good luck in his new role, and I hope that he can make an impact. Let’s hope that the changes at the BGC are positive for both the gambling industry and gamblers. We could all do with some good news to report on.
Jon Bryan is a Gambling Writer and recreational Poker Player who writes regularly on his Substack, as well as for SlotsHawk News, which you can find here: Jon’s articles for SlotsHawk.
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