The Gambling Commission has confirmed it will close the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG) and establish a new research-focused body in its place.

The ABSG, created to oversee the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms launched in 2019, has informed the regulator’s approach to safer gambling ahead of reforms in the Gambling Act Review.

 “ABSG has played an important role in shaping how we think about gambling harms, and embedding lived experience perspectives into regulation,” said Commission chief executive Andrew Rhodes. “As we move into a new phase with the implementation of research programmes funded by the statutory levy, our priority is to ensure we have the right expert input to help inform our work. This is the right time to close ABSG and establish new arrangements that reflect the future needs of our gambling regulation and research.”

The new group will be supported by funding from the statutory levy, designed to finance research, education and treatment programmes.