BGC names Gamesys executive Kane Purdy as new chair
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- Kane Purdy, Managing Director at Gamesys Operations Limited, has been appointed non-executive Chair of the Betting and Gaming Council with immediate effect.
- Purdy brings 20 years of industry experience to the role, and previously chaired GamProtect, the UK’s single customer view player protection initiative.
- The BGC has restructured the position from executive to non-executive, with the role to rotate among member company representatives on an annual basis.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has appointed Kane Purdy, Managing Director at Gamesys Operations Limited, as its new non-executive Chair with immediate effect.
The appointment, confirmed on 23 April, fills the gap left by Michael Dugher, who departed the trade body in January after six years in senior leadership roles.
A new leadership model
Alongside the appointment, the BGC has restructured its leadership by replacing Dugher’s executive chair role with a non-executive position. Purdy’s term will last a fixed 12 months, and the organisation plans to then fill the role with representatives from other member companies on a rotating basis.
Gamesys Operations Limited is part of Bally’s Intralot. Beyond his operational role, Purdy has played an active role in driving industry collaboration, including as Chair of GamProtect, the single customer view initiative designed to enhance player protection and raise standards across the industry.
With this appointment, the BGC has opted for an experienced industry figure with significant hands-on operational expertise, rather than appointing a figure with a large political profile. The departure of Dugher severed a clear link to government, with the former chair having spent seven years as Labour MP for Barnsley East.
Dugher, who was the BGC’s founding Chief Executive for more than four years before becoming Chair in April 2024, left his position to take up a new role at Brunswick Group as Head of its UK Public Affairs Practice.
Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive Officer of the Betting and Gaming Council, said:
“Kane brings a huge amount of experience, expertise and talent to this role, built over two decades in the industry. He is a highly respected leader with a deep understanding of both the opportunities and the responsibilities that come with operating in a regulated environment.”
Kane Purdy, Managing Director at Gamesys Operations Limited and non-executive Chair of the Betting and Gaming Council, said:
“I am honoured and delighted to take on the role of Chair of the Betting and Gaming Council. After 20 years in the industry, I understand the importance of working collectively to meet challenges, raise standards and ensure the regulated sector continues to thrive.”
Pressure on the industry
Purdy steps into the role at a moment of acute pressure for the British regulated gambling sector. Remote Gaming Duty rose from 21% to 40% from 1 April 2026, representing one of the most significant updates to UK gambling tax policy in recent years.
The BGC has been a vocal critic of the increase, warning that it risks driving customers towards unlicensed operators.
That concern is backed by recent data. BGC-commissioned research published last week found that unlicensed operators are on course to outpace licensed ad spend in the UK market.
A separate BGC-commissioned survey found that 65% of UK bettors would refuse to submit bank statements or payslips to continue gambling under proposed financial risk assessment rules. The BGC has consistently argued that poorly implemented checks would push players towards unregulated sites.
The fiscal backdrop has already had tangible consequences for operators and sport. Coral ended its 51-year Cheltenham Festival sponsorship this year, with parent company Entain citing the government’s tax increases as the primary reason.
The BGC represents over 90% of the British regulated gambling sector, covering betting shops, online operators, bingo and casinos.
As the trade body navigates tax reform, financial risk checks, and an advertising environment under parliamentary scrutiny, Purdy’s operational background and record of cross-industry collaboration will be central to the BGC’s ability to maintain a credible voice with government and regulators in the months ahead.
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