The Gambling Commission has advertised a new senior role, head of illegal markets – offering a salary of £65,000 a year to lead the war on illegal gambling. The recruitment campaign was launched at the same time as fresh research suggests the UK’s unlicensed gambling sector has expanded to £16.6bn in 2025.

The hybrid role will involve regular travel to Birmingham and, while listed as full-time, applicants may also apply on a part-time basis of 30 hours per week. The salary and flexible arrangement are likely to prompt questions across all industry stakeholders about how seriously the Commission is approaching illegal market enforcement and whether the package will attract candidates with the necessary experience.

Gambling compliance consultant Nigel Harvey wrote on LinkedIn: “[A] £65k salary just sounds pretty low for such an important position. Illegal markets will grow even more if the financial risk assessments go ahead in the expected form, this is going to be an unbelievably important role – I just can’t see how this level of remuneration will attract the calibre of individual needed.”

Speaking at the Bingo Association AGM on 7 May, acting chief executive Sarah Gardner said the regulator would use £26m in new government funding to address land-based illegal gambling “arguably for the first time in a serious way.”