Gambling Commission's Miller maps regulation future at BGC AGM

Gambling Commission executive director Tim Miller used the Betting and Gaming Council's Annual General Meeting on 26 February 2026 to signal a potential shift toward supporting industry innovation while maintaining robust enforcement standards. Speaking to industry leaders amid significant regulatory upheaval, Miller outlined how the Commission plans to navigate leadership transitions, fee increases, and an expanding illegal gambling threat.

The speech marked a rare moment of regulatory optimism for an industry grappling with budget changes, fee consultations, and the departure of key Commission leadership. Miller's remarks suggested the regulator may be entering a new phase – one that balances strict compliance with opportunities for licensed operators to enhance their offerings.

Leadership Transition Promises Continuity

Miller opened by addressing the elephant in the room: Andrew Rhodes' announcement earlier this month that he would leave his Chief Executive role at the Gambling Commission. Rhodes' last day will be 30 April, ending nearly 5 years of leadership that strengthened industry engagement.

"Andrew and the Commission have strengthened our engagement with industry and in turn the relationship we have with you in these five years. But whilst Andrew will be leaving, myself, Sarah Gardner and the Commission more widely remain committed to the approach he instilled."

— Tim Miller, Executive Director

The reassurance came as industry concerns mount over potential policy reversals under new leadership. Miller emphasized that the Commission's Board is already working on appointing an Interim Chief Executive, with updates to follow on the selection process.

Charles Counsell, serving as Interim Chair, has publicly thanked Rhodes for his contributions, a sentiment Miller echoed while promising operational continuity.

Budget Aftermath Drives Illegal Market Focus

The November budget's impact on gambling businesses has created what Miller described as a "radically changed outlook" for many operators. However, the Treasury's commitment of £26 million over three years specifically for illegal gambling enforcement represents a vote of confidence in the Commission's work.

Miller stressed that tackling illegal operators requires coordination beyond traditional regulatory boundaries. Social media firms, big tech companies, and affiliates must make "concerted efforts" alongside industry and regulators.

The Government's Illegal Gambling Taskforce, where Miller sits and chairs a subgroup, includes representatives from finance and social media sectors. Early progress includes commitments from Meta to work with the Commission on suppressing "not on gamstop" sites – a development Miller intends to monitor closely.

"Since my speech at ICE, I have met with Meta and they have committed to working with the Commission further in this space, especially in relation to 'not on gamstop' sites. I intend to hold them to that."

— Tim Miller, Executive Director

Fee Consultation Acknowledges Industry Frustration

The DCMS consultation on Commission fees, running until 29 March, has triggered industry concerns about timing. Coming after the budget and statutory levy changes, Miller acknowledged the consultation may be "unwelcome" but defended its necessity.

The proposed increase would raise the Commission's total income – excluding National Lottery operations – from 0.21 percent to 0.28 percent of total industry GGY. Miller attributed the need for higher fees to increased regulatory complexity, particularly in licensing work involving ever-more complex corporate structures.

"The ever more complex corporate structures that have developed in this industry means that work to assess things like change of corporate control applications is not always covered by the application fees charged, leaving general licence fee income to subsidise it."

— Tim Miller, Executive Director

Without powers to set its own fees – something many comparable regulators possess and which the Gambling Act Review White Paper recommended – the Commission cannot control fee predictability for industry.

The Commission has already begun planning potential service reductions if the proposed income increase is rejected, taking into account the approaching end of their Gambling Act Review implementation role.

Regulatory Stability Creates Innovation Opportunities

Miller positioned the completion of Gambling Act Review implementation as an opportunity for regulatory stability and industry innovation. He emphasized the need for a period where reforms can "bed in" rather than pursuing endless regulatory changes.

"Getting into a position where we are on an endless treadmill of reform will not take us any further forward in figuring out what works. And like a treadmill, we will risk expending a lot of energy just to go nowhere."

— Tim Miller, Executive Director

This stability creates space for enhanced illegal market enforcement and support for licensed market innovation. Miller praised Britain's gambling market as "one of the most diverse, competitive and successful gambling markets in the world whilst being one of the most strongly regulated with high channelisation rates."

International regulators often speak "enviously" about what has been built since the 2005 Act, according to Miller. Protecting this regulated market structure becomes crucial in fighting criminals who exploit British consumers.

Compliance Picture Shows Improvement

Miller noted a "noticeable change" in the Commission's casework patterns. While case volumes remain high and complexity increases, the era of multimillion-pound financial penalties "happening almost weekly" appears to be ending.

This shift doesn't signal relaxed enforcement – Miller pointed to recent licence suspensions as evidence of continued robust action. Instead, improved industry compliance creates space for "more sensible conversations about opportunities to enhance the offer to players."

Such discussions would have been "impossible" five years ago when Miller joined the Commission in 2016, amid widespread and "egregious" compliance failures that made stronger regulation inevitable.

Innovation Framework Takes Shape

Miller outlined the Commission's approach to supporting innovation while maintaining licensing objective compliance. The key principle: operators must demonstrate commitment to consumer protection before seeking regulatory approval for new initiatives.

He criticized some White Paper-era industry proposals that sought to "liberalise measures" first and address consumer risks "afterwards" – an approach he described as "the fastest way of torpedoing what might otherwise be a sensible reform."

The physical sports book at Paddy's Sports Book in the Hippodrome casino exemplifies successful innovation. Miller described the setup as offering "increased appeal to players without seeing any real change in the level of risk for them."

"We want a competitive and innovative licensed market that keeps customers within a safe, fair and well regulated environment and out of the clutches of the scammers and criminals of the illegal market."

— Tim Miller, Executive Director

Cryptoasset Regulation Pathway Emerges

Miller announced the Commission's first concrete steps toward allowing cryptoasset payments in licensed gambling. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2025, laid before Parliament in December 2025, will bring cryptoassets under FCA regulatory remit from 25 October 2027.

This regulatory clarification changes the landscape for gambling applications. Miller has asked the Commission's Industry Forum to examine how cryptoasset payments could be implemented "sensibly and in line with the licensing objectives."

The initiative responds to evident consumer demand – illegal market research shows crypto ranks as one of the two biggest search terms leading British gamblers to unlicensed sites.

"I am keen that we approach this in the spirit of exploring the art of the possible rather than starting from a position of finding all the reasons not to innovate."

— Tim Miller, Executive Director

Miller avoided setting deadlines or timelines, acknowledging significant challenges ahead. However, the Commission recognizes innovation as a "central consumer protection tool" against illegal market growth.

Strategic Review of Regulatory Requirements

The proposed fee increase would fund a strategic review of current regulatory requirements' impact, efficiency, and burden – aligning with the Government's broader regulatory reform agenda. Miller anticipated criticism that this signals weaker regulation or increased consumer risk tolerance.

He dismissed such concerns as "clearly nonsense," pointing to recent licence suspensions as evidence of continued robust enforcement. The Commission aims to balance strong regulatory action with support for consumer-focused innovation.

This approach reflects lessons learned during White Paper implementation, where some industry innovation proposals lacked adequate risk mitigation planning. Miller emphasized that licensing objectives must be "central to the design" of any innovation.

Supply and Demand Side Enforcement

While much illegal market enforcement focuses on supply-side actions – site takedowns and search result removals – Miller acknowledged the need for demand-side interventions. Understanding what drives consumers to illegal operators and how to retain them in the licensed market becomes crucial for long-term success.

The Commission's research provides no evidence that recent regulatory changes rank among top drivers to illegal gambling. However, maintaining market diversity, competitiveness, and success requires ongoing attention to licensed operator capabilities.

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Evaluation Period for White Paper Measures

The Commission will continue collaborating with DCMS to evaluate White Paper measure effectiveness. Miller referenced his September speech emphasizing proper evaluation needs to understand which reforms deliver desired outcomes.

This assessment period requires time for changes to stabilize before determining their real-world impact. The evaluation will inform whether current reforms achieve their safety, fairness, and crime-free objectives.

Miller suggested this evaluation approach helps avoid the "endless treadmill of reform" that could consume regulatory resources without advancing consumer protection goals.

Cross-Sector Collaboration Requirements

Addressing illegal gambling requires action beyond traditional industry and regulatory boundaries. Miller emphasized that social media firms, big tech companies, and affiliates must contribute to suppression efforts.

The Illegal Gambling Taskforce structure includes finance and social media representatives, reflecting this multi-sector approach. Early engagements show promise, including Meta's commitments regarding "not on gamstop" site promotion.

Miller indicated the Commission will move quickly on illegal market initiatives, recognizing that "time is of the essence" in addressing criminal exploitation of British consumers.

Regulatory Framework Limitations and Opportunities

While acknowledging that statutory and public policy frameworks place some limitations on innovation, Miller argued these need not automatically bar improved consumer experiences. The key lies in demonstrating licensing objective compliance alongside innovation proposals.

He encouraged operators with innovation ideas to engage directly with the Commission, promising that demonstrated commitment to licensing objectives will receive supportive responses.

Some conversations have already begun, including the cryptoasset payment discussions through the Industry Forum mechanism.

What This Signals for Industry Strategy

Miller's BGC address reveals a Gambling Commission potentially entering a more collaborative phase while maintaining enforcement standards. The combination of leadership stability, illegal market funding, and innovation support suggests operators may find more regulatory receptiveness to enhancement proposals.

However, this openness comes with clear conditions: licensing objectives must drive innovation design, and compliance cannot be afterthoughts to commercial initiatives. The Commission's recent enforcement actions demonstrate that regulatory robustness continues alongside increased collaboration willingness.

For operators considering innovation proposals, the message appears clear – early engagement with demonstrated consumer protection commitment offers the best pathway to regulatory approval. The cryptoasset initiative provides a template for how such conversations might develop.

The illegal market threat adds urgency to licensed sector enhancement. With criminals exploiting regulatory gaps and consumer demands, innovation becomes not just commercial opportunity but consumer protection necessity. Miller's framework suggests the Commission recognizes this dynamic and is prepared to adapt accordingly.

According to UK Gambling Commission.