Written by Jon Bryan | Expected reading time 5 minutes
Last Updated: February 17, 2026
Written by Jon Bryan
With the Betting and Gaming Council’s AGM taking place at the end of February, Jon Bryan looks at what lies ahead for the BGC and the gambling industry.
ANOTHER FULL LINE-UP
The BGC have announced who will be speaking at their AGM at the end of this month. It will be interesting to hear both the tone and the focus of the speakers.
The full list has been announced here, and includes key figures from the gambling industry, parliament, as well as the Gambling Commission (GC).
Listening to both the government’s Gambling Minister and the Shadow Secretary of State will be interesting, especially given clear disagreements over gambling policy recently. There are now differences between the government and the official opposition on specific issues that relate to gambling, which has not always been the case. Discussion last month on the issue of fee increases being proposed by the government showed a clash of ideas which included a Shadow Minister calling the government “reckless“. We will see whether there is a more conciliatory tone being adopted when they are in a room together.
While we are some time away from a change in government and, arguably, there being little on the horizon regarding specific legislative changes, there is nothing obvious on which to focus the next political disagreement on gambling. This does not mean that there will be any sort of truce between those arguing for more gambling regulation and others asking for it to stop. For example, gambling advertising is an issue which may pop up and occupy parliamentary time if the opportunity arises. There are several anti-gambling MPs on the labour benches who would love to see that.
If any questions are taken by the politicians who are speaking at the AGM, they may be asked whether they favour a regulatory framework which allows the industry to grow, or what we have currently with all the recent changes, restrictions and increasing costs. There could even be a question to the Minister asking for the gambling industry to be given a bit of a break, like other areas of the hospitality sector.
CHANGES AT THE GAMBLING COMMISSION
The GC itself is about to undergo a period of change, as we heard with the announcement that Andrew Rhodes is to step down as CEO at the end of April. That announcement sparked a debate about the legacy that Rhodes will leave at the GC, with the Racing Post stating that there won’t be many gamblers who will be sad to see him go, stating that he had “few fans among punters”.
The BGC thanked Rhodes for his “professionalism” and his “willingness to engage directly with the industry”. What comes next is the question that many involved with the sector are thinking about, rather than concentrating on any legacy of Rhodes, positive or otherwise.
The GC will be well-represented at the BGC’s AGM, with both Tim Miller and Ian Angus speaking on behalf of the Commission. Their speeches and contributions to any Q&A will be an opportunity for those in attendance to pick up on any hints about the future direction of the GC.
MICHAEL DUGHER
Just a couple of weeks before we heard about the changes at the GC and the departure of their CEO, news came through about the exit of Michael Dugher from the Betting and Gaming Council.
From his stint as CEO from the start, and latterly as Chairman, Michael Dugher and the Betting and Gaming Council were synonymous. The announcement of his departure was made just two weeks into the new year, with the current CEO (Grainne Hurst) paying tribute to his “exceptional” work. Others chipped in with their kind comments as well, although the anti-gamblers that he rubbed up against over the years also had their say.
One commentator said it offered an opportunity for a “rethink” or a “reset”, and Dan Waugh, partner at gambling consultancy Regulus, said that it might be difficult for the BGC to define what it should do next.
There is no doubt about the important impact that Dugher had on the BGC, but the question of what lies ahead and who takes over as Chairman are yet to be answered.
STABILITY OR CONTINUED UNCERTAINTY?
12 months ago, Grainne Hurst said that the gambling industry was in for “a period of regulatory stability“. It was a reasonable assumption to make at the time. But the year turned out differently for both the gambling industry and gamblers.
What started off as a year with certain things on the horizon which were relatively well known and expected, turned into something else with the tax changes announced in the budget, and the consultation that led to that announcement. Parts of the industry adopted approaches and positions which divided them, at a time when finding common ground and unity might have been a better path to take.
Rather than a reset, perhaps the best way forward is to simply reassert some things that are probably largely agreed by those associated with the BGC:
That gambling brings enjoyment to millions, employment to thousands, and that it is not going to go away, as the rise in unregulated gambling shows.
We shall see.
THE BLACK MARKET
There may well be a meeting of the minds of everyone when it comes to the black market, and by titling their AGM as “The Illegal Market: Real risk. Real harm.”, the BGC are indicating their desire to keep a focus on that.
But doing so may not unite everyone in the same way, as one specific reason for the GC proposing a hike in fees is to tackle this very problem of the growth in unregulated gambling. The extent to which that tension expresses itself will be something to watch out for.
As ever, it promises to be an interesting event.
Jon Bryan is a Gambling Writer and recreational Poker Player who writes regularly on his Substack, as well as for SlotsHawk, which you can find here: Jon’s articles for SlotsHawk.
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