GambleAware has appointed Anna Hargrave as its transition CEO to oversee the managed closure of the gambling harms charity.
Hargrave will be taking the reins from Zoë Osmond, who has been the charity’s CEO since 2021, as the commission of the research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms transitions to the UK Government upon the introduction of the statutory levy.
Andy Boucher, GambleAware’s Chair of Trustees, commented: “Over the next several months we have some important delivery and legacy ambitions and I am very confident that under Anna’s leadership we will achieve the positive ending for the charity we are all working towards.
“With a renewed focus on handover activity until the end of March 2026 we will continue to ensure there is a smooth transition to the new statutory system to address gambling harm across Great Britain.”
Boucher also thanked Osmond for her “demonstrable and steadfast leadership”, and the charity hailed her role in driving forward the introduction of the statutory levy and positioning gambling harms as a serious public health issue.
“Few charities can truly say they’ve delivered on their founding mission, but GambleAware and the exceptional team behind it have played a pivotal role in reframing gambling harms as a public health issue and helped to shape the foundations of the new gambling harms prevention and treatment system,” said Osmond, reflecting on her time at the charity.
“I’m delighted that Anna will be taking the reins for the next critical period, leading the charity through the completion of its transition to the new system.”
A smooth transition
Following changes made by the government, operators in the UK are now required to contribute to a statutory levy to support research, education and treatment (RET), with contributions determined by companies’ gross gambling yield.
As a result, the NHS will now take over from third sector organisations, such as GambleAware, as the main administrator of the treatment and prevention of gambling harms.
Hargrave has been with GambleAware since 2021, serving as both Deputy CEO and Chief Strategy and Commissioning Officer. Prior to that, she also held numerous senior roles in the NHS.
She will oversee day-to-day operations and the charity moves to its planned closure on 31 March.
“The final six months are critical for the smooth transfer and transition to the new system and I am delighted to be taking on this role,” said Hargrave, who will take on her new position on 30 September.
“I look forward to continuing to work with the new commissioners as they get to grips with their new responsibilities within the statutory system and will work with them to ensure their efforts build upon the current system’s achievements and insights to ensure learnings are carried forward.”
Industry bemoans change
Although GambleAware hailed the introduction of the new statutory levy, voices from across the industry lamented the closure of GambleAware, describing the news as ‘a tragedy’.
Jordan Lea, Founder of DealMeOut, reacted to the news on LinkedIn, describing GambleAware as the most recognisable, and respected brands to the population, and holds vast, specialised expertise in research, evaluation and commissioning.
He added: “It is an aberration that the implementation of the Statutory levy is causing so many job losses, creating an exodus of talent from our sector.”
Dan Waugh, Partner at Regulus Partners, also slammed campaigners who greeted the news of the charity’s closure, warning that the new funding system is creating more uncertainty for gambling harm treatment providers.
He told iGaming Expert: “The Government came around to the idea of a levy because it thought it would address perceptions of conflicts; and as a result we now have a funding system riven with actual conflicts of interest. It claimed it would create greater stability for treatment providers, and it is having the opposite effect.
“Finally, the glee with which some campaigners greeted the news of GambleAware’s closure, involving dozens of job losses in the Third Sector [and potentially many more to come], reveals just how unpleasant and self-regarding some people can be.”
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