Michael Dugher Leaves Position of Betting and Gaming Council Chair

Michael Dugher has stepped down from the position of Chair at the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), after spending close to six years with the industry standards body.

Dugher initially joined the BGC as CEO in February 2020, shortly after it was founded in 2019. In September 2024, Dugher moved positions to become Chair, a role he will now vacate with immediate effect after 16 months.

Dugher is leaving to become Head of UK Public Affairs Practice for advisory firm Brunswick Group, where he has already served as a Senior Adviser since September 2024. He will continue to work as a freelance business adviser and continues to be a Board Member and Director at Nottingham Forest Football Club.

The BGC represents more than 90% of retail betting shops, online betting and gaming operators, casinos and bingo operators in the UK. Operators sign up to the BGC’s code of conduct and must commit resources and funding to the BGC.

A challenging time

Dugher was in charge at the BGC through a challenging time for UK operators, with the government’s Gambling Act review taking place during that time, leading to the 2023 Gambling White Paper.

The White Paper signified one of the most important moments in the history of gambling in the UK, with a number of recommendations within the paper since being implemented.

These include affordability checks, stricter identity verification methods, and a maximum stake of £5 on online slots. Some terms are still to be implemented, including reform at land-based venues, such as cashless payments on machines, which is still in the rollout phase, as well as the introduction of a gambling ombudsman, which is yet to come to fruition.

Fight against tax increases

Dugher has overseen a period where the BGC has vociferously tried to fight against hefty tax increases. However, in November, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that from April 2026, remote gaming duty, paid on online casino bets, will increase from 21% to 40% of gross profit.

This will be followed by an increase in general betting duty, paid on online sports betting, from 15% to 25% of gross profit in April 2027; bets on horseracing will be exempt.

The BGC mentioned how during his time there, Dugher introduced and adopted 20 new safer gambling codes containing 100 new standards. Dugher also launched a number of charity initiatives, including the Britannia Stakes charity race at Royal Ascot and the Grand National Charity Bet, raising more than £6.5 million.

“Ignorance and snobbery”

Dugher said:

"I am immensely proud of everything we have achieved at the BGC. Working with outstanding colleagues and members, we brought the industry together, embraced higher standards in safer gambling and championed an industry that employs tens of thousands of talented, hardworking, decent men and women in communities across almost every part of the UK.

“In an era when there is sadly so much ignorance and snobbery about betting – not helped, in my view, by the decline in the number of working-class people in parliament – the BGC did a difficult job in navigating the industry through the previous government’s gambling review.

"This resulted in a White Paper that, though not without its challenges, avoided many of the most draconian and disproportionate measures advocated by anti-gambling prohibitionists.”

Grainne Hurst, BGC CEO, added:

“Michael’s contribution to the Betting and Gaming Council over the past six years has been exceptional. From the outset, he brought clarity of purpose, a trusted standing with policymakers and regulators, and a steadfast commitment to championing a responsible, well-regulated betting and gaming industry.”