British lawmakers have raised concerns about the appointment of former William Hill executive Phil Walker as interim chief executive of Allwyn UK, citing a past regulatory sanction and role at a major operator of high-street slot-machine venues.
Labour lawmaker Dawn Butler and Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith wrote to the Gambling Commission saying they were “deeply concerned” about Walker’s appointment to lead the operator of the National Lottery, as reported by The Guardian.
They questioned whether Walker’s work for City Gaming, which owns adult gaming centre chain Game Nation, was “compatible” with his appointment and asked the regulator to “explain what consideration, if any, was given to this history when assessing his suitability for his present position”.
Walker, who previously served as William Hill‘s UK and Ireland boss, was personally sanctioned by the Gambling Commission in 2024 over what the regulator described as “widespread and alarming” failures in anti-money laundering and terrorist-financing controls at the bookmaker. William Hill was fined a record £19.2 million ($26.09 million) last year over the failures.
Walker also holds a non-executive position at Game Nation, Britain’s third-largest chain of adult gaming centres, which are often open around the clock and have a high concentration of slot machines.
Companies House filings indicate Walker was likely to have earned more than £50,000 from the role.
Game Nation said Walker would step back from the position from Sept. 1 for the duration of his interim contract with the National Lottery.
The appointment comes as adult gaming centres face increased political scrutiny. While still mayor of Greater Manchester, Prime Minister Andy Burnham criticised the sector for targeting vulnerable communities. He has since announced plans to tighten the licensing regime governing the venues.
The National Lottery is operated by Allwyn UK under a 10-year licence from the Gambling Commission. The contract is expected to generate £6.5 billion ($8.83 billion) in revenue over 10 years, with billions of pounds mandated for good causes.
Allwyn, ultimately owned by Czech billionaire Karel Komárek, defended Walker’s appointment, citing his operational, digital and marketing experience.
“As we navigate an increasingly competitive environment, Phil Walker brings valuable operational, digital and marketing experience alongside a significant understanding of our operating landscape,” Allwyn said.
“His appointment will help deliver the next stage of growth and innovation of the national lottery, and we look forward to welcoming Phil to the role of interim CEO.”
Allwyn has previously highlighted that Walker did not lose his personal Gambling Commission licence following the 2024 sanction, indicating that he remains eligible to work in the regulated gambling sector.
Walker replaced Andria Vidler as Allwyn UK’s interim CEO. While his appointment is initially temporary, the scrutiny from lawmakers adds pressure on the operator as it oversees one of Britain’s most prominent gambling brands.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/08/26/126089-uk-mps-raise-concerns-over-phil-walker-39s-appointment-as-national-lottery-boss
