UKGC Unveils Two Appointments to Its Advisory Board for Safer Gambling

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) unveiled two new appointments to its Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG). The ones joining the board at this time are the experienced Dr Vivre Marionneau and Dr Spencer Murch.

The Two Experts Will Empower the ABSG

The two new appointees are set to underpin the ABSG’s responsible gambling efforts in Great Britain amid the industry’s rapid growth, leveraging their regulatory experience to protect vulnerable players from harm.

Both Marionneau and Murch were described as “respected academics” with impressive track records in the study of the gambling sector. Their expertise will bolster the commission’s understanding of how to best shield the most vulnerable players of society from the dangers of excessive gambling.

Marionneau, for example, is an esteemed sociologist and the director of the Centre for Research on Addiction, Control, and Governance at the University of Helsinki, Finland. Her fields of expertise include gambling regulation, policy evaluations, digital gambling environments, gambling industry practices, and qualitative investigation of gambling experiences and harms.

Murch, on the other hand, is an expert cognitive psychologist, as well as an AGRI Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Calgary, Canada. He boasts a significant understanding of the cognitive, behavioral and psychophysiological profiles of addictive digital use and knows how to identify at-risk players. His work is focused on exploring new opportunities for leveraging AI tech to intervene on time and protect players from excessive gambling.

The New Members Are Looking Forward to Strengthening British Regulation

Marionneau said that she feels honored to join the ABSG at a time when proper regulation is more important than ever. She was particularly excited about the opportunity to become a part of a team of experts and RG specialists.

I am thrilled to be a part of this impressive team of experts, and I look forward to advising particularly on regulatory practices and research from other jurisdictions.

Dr Vivre Marionneau

March, meanwhile, expressed eagerness to contribute to the ABSG and British regulation as a whole. He emphasized the importance of a better understanding of the threats posed to human health in the UK and beyond.

The mandate of this group [ABSG] is important, timely, and represents an opportunity to transform research insights into working harm prevention policies.

Dr Spencer March

The two professionals were welcomed on board by ABSG’s chair, Anna van der Gaag, who said that the UKGC is glad to have them on board. She praised their academic achievements in the field of gambling studies and expressed confidence that their input would bolster the UKGC’s regulatory capabilities.

I am delighted to be welcoming them and have no doubt they will bring valuable new insights to an ever-expanding range of topics which inform policy and practice in gambling regulation.

Anna van der Gaag, chair, ABSG

ABSG members, for context, are appointed by the UKGC.

Speaking of the commission, the regulatory body just took Sorare to court over illegal gambling.