The UK Gambling Commission has appointed Sarah Fox to its Executive Team on secondment from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Fox will lead the regulator’s Policy and Research and Statistics functions along with National Lottery regulation, taking on responsibilities previously held by Tim Miller, who announced his departure in late June and will leave the Commission in September.
“Over the last four years I’ve seen first-hand the work of the Commission, and the expertise, talent and enthusiasm of its teams,” said Fox.
“So much has been achieved over a time that has been significant for the gambling sector and everyone with an interest in it. The opportunity to cross over to the Commission and help the team continue making gambling safer, fairer and crime-free is one I am really excited to take,” Fox added.
A regulator with several vacancies to fill
Fox’s arrival follows a string of exits from the Commission’s senior ranks. Former permanent Chief Executive Andrew Rhodes left in April 2026 to join consultancy firm Hawkbridge, and Sarah Gardner has served as acting CEO since then.
The Chair role has also remained unfilled, with Charles Counsell serving in an interim capacity since February 2025.
Given her four years of close work with the Commission on gambling and lottery policy, Fox is positioned to step into the vacated responsibilities without a transition period.
The industry is also waiting on a decision for the Gambling Minister brief, a question that has taken on new relevance following Andy Burnham’s move to Number 10.
Lisa Nandy has returned to DCMS as Secretary of State, and former Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross has been reappointed to the department, but no announcement has been made on who will hold the gambling-specific portfolio. Vicky Foxcroft MP has been named in reports as a possible candidate.
Fox’s move to the Commission suggests that conversations on oversight of the gambling sector are advancing, with other appointments potentially close behind.
Four years at the center of gambling policy
Fox has led the Gambling and Lotteries team at DCMS since 2020, a period covering the publication and initial implementation of the gambling white paper, the transition to the 4th National Lottery Licence, and policy oversight of areas including society lotteries and horse racing.
The white paper’s recommendations have not yet been fully written into the UK’s regulatory and legal framework, leaving further implementation work ahead.
Her civil service career spans 23 years and includes roles at the Home Office, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Cabinet Office, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
She also serves as DCMS’s senior disability champion, supporting the department’s staff network and drawing on her own experiences to advance disability confidence across the organization.
“I am delighted to welcome Sarah to the Commission. We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with Sarah’s experience joining us,” said Gardner. “The Commission has an ambitious strategy so having someone who is already working across the gambling and lotteries sector will be invaluable.”
“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 and that returns to Good Causes are maximized,” Gardner added.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/07/29/125614-gambling-commission-names-sarah-fox-to-head-policy-and-lottery-oversight
