UKGC Names Kristy Caldwell as Interim Chair of the Industry Forum

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) announced the appointment of Kristy Caldwell as the new interim chair of the Industry Forum, a body dedicated to maintaining a healthy dialogue between the regulator and its licensees.

Caldwell to Temporarily Replace Nick Rust

The Industry Forum was created three years ago and is a body that provides the UKGC with an understanding of regulated gambling industry stakeholders’ opinions on various regulatory initiatives. The forum is made up of people working in UK gaming who bring an important perspective, allowing the authority to remain unbiased and aware of the industry’s needs.

The Industry Forum’s previous chair, Nick Rust, departed in November 2025 following the conclusion of his term. Since then, the UKGC has been on the lookout for a suitable replacement.

In its announcement, the UKGC described Caldwell as an established forum member who joined the body in March 2024. The authority added that she will serve as interim chair until the UKGC concludes the recruitment process for a permanent successor to Rust.

The UK regulator lauded Caldwell as an experienced compliance savant who is currently running Betsmart Consulting, a consultancy providing online and land-based gambling operators and local authorities with important advice.

Caldwell Vowed to Encourage Healthy Industry Communication

Caldwell commented on her new appointment, saying that she is delighted to be given this responsibility. She expressed full commitment to building a “healthy and respected” gaming sector by encouraging and facilitating communication between the UKGC and its licensees.

We may not get it right every time, but the important thing is we learn from our mistakes, we keep talking and we keep moving forwards.

Kristy Caldwell, interim chair, Industry Forum

The UKGC Is Displeased with Social Media Platforms

In other news, Tim Miller, the executive director of the UKGC, just scrutinized social media giants for not doing enough to prevent illegal gambling from using their platforms to advertise to British consumers.

Speaking at ICE Barcelona, Miller said that he was displeased with the aforementioned fact, emphasizing that many of these offshore operators purposefully target Brits. To make matters worse, some even highlight the fact that they are not covered by GamStop, the UK self-exclusion scheme, as a selling point, effectively exposing vulnerable players to harm.

While Miller acknowledged that social media platforms do remove reported ads, he accused the tech giants behind them of placing the burden of identifying the ads on the UKGC. He rejected the notion that such companies lack the resources or ability to prevent illegal gambling ads and accused them of trying to play both sides by maintaining a relationship with the regulated gaming industry, while still taking money from illegal operators.