As more upheaval grips the Gambling Commission amid senior leadership exits, unfilled chief executive and chairman roles and a stuttering recruitment drive to fill posts to fight the rise of the illegal black market, the DCMS has despatched one of its own to calm the waters at the hapless body. Experienced department official Sarah Fox has been seconded to instill some professionalism at the rudderless regulator.
Senior civil servant Sarah Fox has joined the Gambling Commission on secondment from DCMS, as the regulator attempts to navigate a turbulent period for the UK gambling industry without a permanent CEO, executive director, or chair.
The appointment follows several high profile departures, including Andrew Rhodes and Tim Miller, neither of whom will actually be missed, and Marcus Boyle, with Fox installed to provide oversight of Policy, Research and Statistics functions.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with Sarah’s experience joining us,” said acting CEO Sarah Gardner. “The Commission has an ambitious strategy so having someone who is already working across the gambling and lotteries sector will be invaluable.”
It’s a welcome designed to put a sheen on the temporary shuffle, but most aren’t buying the standard fare of Gambling Commission BS.
A rudderless regulator?
The regulator is in turmoil – it has no leadership, no quality and coherent direction and, much to DCMS shame, it has been handed a 25 percent licence fee increase by the government department.
The cynics will say, Fox’s move was a wily one: DCMS is generally believed to have deep concerns over GamCom’s abilities, and the secondment is all about keeping a close eye on what the Commission does and how it acts.
House of cards
Of course, though, in the famed line from the classic British drama House of Cards, “you might very well think that; I couldn’t possibly comment”.
But the Commission is full of praise for their new temporary ‘boss’ – presumably in presence rather than in duty.
Gardner added: “Sarah’s role will be a vital one as we complete the final stages of the implementation of the white paper, assess the impacts of these changes, and continue to ensure the interests of National Lottery players are protected.”
For the past four years, Fox has headed up the Gambling and Lotteries team at DCMS, and will now be expected to facilitate the roll-out of controversial Financial Risk Assessments, while navigating the impact of recent tax hikes on the sector, and the growth of the illegal market.
Skilled in the art of political positioning, Fox was ever the diplomat as she made the move to the regulator. “Over the last four years I’ve seen first-hand the work of the Commission, and the expertise, talent and enthusiasm of its teams,” she said. “So much has been achieved over a time that has been significant for the gambling sector and everyone with an interest in it.”
Clucking great: the Fox is in the hen house
If your business had just given £26 million and a 25 per cent fee rise to a supplier whose chief executive and chairman have stepped down; the joint acting CEO has left and its decision making process has fallen so far down the organisational ladder that it’s being run by the rank and the filer, all running around like headless chickens, you too would probably despatch one of your key people to find out what the hell is going on.
That’s how everyone is viewing the secondment of Sarah Fox from the DCMS to the Gambling Commission.
And we would defy everyone who’d say otherwise. Those that try to paint a pretty picture about the switch – well, if you’re the DCMS, shame on you if this wasn’t the reason; and if you’re GamCom, well it’s your shameless activity that has brought this on your head.
Fortunately, Sarah Fox did accept her Mission Impossible task to clear the blockers out of the regulator’s building and replace them with a competent, visionary management, before the message self destructed in 5 seconds.
So here’s to our best and possibly last chance of rebuilding a fair and reasoned regulation process for the industry.
Fox has the skill-set and the experience to shape change at the Commission and most importantly restore the Gambling Commission from its present status as the No-Gambling Commission.
But she will need some luck: this is the most evangelical, anti-gambling regulatory cult. Prohibition runs through its veins and Fox has got to bleed them dry of the poison.
And a good starting point is to halt the pay rises; cut the staff numbers; and hire people that understand gambling. And most importantly listen to the industry and rebuild trust, because there is none for this current structure, not from the industry, not from other regulators, not from many politicians and not from the local authorities.
And you know what, we can’t all be wrong.
