Gambling Commission to close Advisory Board for Safer Gambling

The Gambling Commission has today (19 September 2025) announced that the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG) will close following the completion of its original remit.

ABSG was established to provide oversight and challenge in relation to the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms. With the conclusion of that strategy and the delivery of key milestones, the Commission has determined that the time is right to bring ABSG’s work to a close and to focus on new arrangements better aligned to the next phase of research and regulation.

Over the course of its work, ABSG has contributed to several important developments in gambling regulation, including:

recognition of gambling harms as a public health issue
ensuring the voices of those with lived experience are included in policy and regulation through the creation of the Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP)
supporting the introduction of the statutory levy to fund independent research, education and treatment.
The Commission will now begin work to establish a new research-focused expert group to support the expanded role of research made possible through levy funding.

Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, said: “ABSG has played an important role in shaping how we think about gambling harms, and embedding lived experience perspectives into regulation. I want to thank all current and former members for their contribution and commitment.

“As we move into a new phase with the implementation of research programmes funded by the statutory levy, our priority is to ensure we have the right expert input to help inform our work. This is the right time to close ABSG and establish new arrangements that reflect the future needs of our gambling regulation and research.”

Helen Child, Head of Governance said: “ABSG have made a huge contribution to gambling regulation and the Commission. I am grateful for the insight, engagement and challenge each and every member has provided.”

Mr Ajanaku was discovered working as a door supervisor by SIA investigation officers during a routine inspection at a venue in Islington, presenting what appeared to be an SIA licence card.

During the inspection, the officers were able to establish that although the photograph on the card was a good likeness for Mr Ajanaku, it did not match the image held by the SIA. Furthermore, the licence number had been cancelled some months earlier after being reported lost.

Mr Ajanaku used the details from a family member’s licence card to create a counterfeit with his own likeness. He did not engage with the SIA during the investigation and was then summonsed to appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court as a result.

Kirsty Grant, SIA Criminal Investigations Officer, said:

Mr Ajanaku was placed in a position of trust in the night-time economy after using a counterfeit licence card to gain employment as a door supervisor. By being untrained and unlicensed, he put both his own safety and the public’s safety at risk. The fine and costs imposed on him through this conviction reflect this and should serve as a warning to all those who seek to work illegally in the private security industry.