Sue Young appointed UKGC executive director of operations

• The UK Gambling Commission has appointed Sue Young as its new Executive Director of Operations, effective 16 March 2026.
• Young joins from HMRC, where she served as Director of Debt Management, and brings leadership experience from the Home Office, Border Force, and the Department of Health and Social Care.
• Her appointment comes as the Commission navigates a significant leadership transition and intensifies its campaign against the illegal gambling market.

The UK Gambling Commission has named Sue Young, a senior civil servant, as its new Executive Director of Operations.

Young joins from HMRC, where she held the role of Director of Debt Management. Her public sector career spans senior positions at the Home Office, including Border Force and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, as well as the Department of Health and Social Care.

Focus on compliance monitoring and enforcement

As Executive Director of Operations, Young will lead a number of the Commission’s operational functions as the regulator continues its work to keep gambling safer, fairer and crime free. Her background in debt management and financial oversight at HMRC is considered well suited to an operational brief that includes compliance monitoring and enforcement.

Sarah Gardner, Acting Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, said:

“I’m delighted to welcome Sue to the Gambling Commission. There is a great deal of important work underway across our operational teams, not least our continued focus on tackling the illegal market and delivering strong regulatory outcomes. Sue brings a wealth of operational leadership experience and I’m very much looking forward to working with her.”

Young herself highlighted the significance of the Commission’s consumer protection remit. Sue Young commented:

“I’m excited to be joining the Gambling Commission and to be learning about a new sector. The Commission plays an important role in protecting consumers and ensuring gambling is conducted fairly and safely. I’m looking forward to building on the significant work already underway across the organisation.”

Leadership transition backdrop

Young’s arrival comes at a time of considerable change at the top of the regulator. Andrew Rhodes is due to step down as Chief Executive at the end of April, with UK media reports suggesting he is set to join Hawkbridge, a gambling-focused strategic advisory firm.

The UKGC has been stepping up its enforcement action against the illegal gambling market, while the Department of Culture, Media and Sport is running a newly established task force and consulting on banning unlicensed betting firms from sponsoring British sports clubs.

In 2024/25, the UKGC carried out 9,700 compliance actions, up from 4,200 in 2023/24, reflecting the regulator’s increasingly active enforcement posture.

Ongoing regulatory and tax changes

The appointment also comes ahead of a wave of regulatory changes due to take effect across 2026. Updated financial key event reporting rules came into force on 19 March 2026, requiring operators to provide greater transparency on ownership structures, financing, and corporate interests.

Further amendments tied to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 are scheduled for 6 April.

On top of the structural changes, the industry faces significant financial pressure. A new tax framework, starting with an increase in Remote Gaming Duty to 40% of gross gaming revenue, will come into effect on 1 April. The change is expected to bite heavily into operator margins and have wider impacts on marketing spend and employment.

With Young’s appointment now confirmed, her focus on enforcement outcomes and the illegal market will be closely watched by operators navigating an increasingly demanding compliance environment in 2026.

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