Tim Miller to Exit Gambling Commission Director Position in September

Tim Miller will vacate the position of Executive Director of Policy & Research at the Gambling Commission, leaving the British regulator with another senior position to fill while it also searches for a new chief executive.

When Miller steps down from the role in September, he will have been with the Commission for 10 years. During his time with the Commission, Miller oversaw the introduction of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB).

The GSGB replaced the Commission’s quarterly telephone survey, with the last published GSGB showing that for 2024, Great Britain’s problem gambling rate increased slightly from 2.5% to 2.7%.

A busy time

Miller worked for the Commission during a time of significant regulatory change in the UK. This included the slashing of maximum stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals from £100 to £2 in 2019.

Miller was also in post when gambling with credit cards was banned in the UK in 2020, and when the 2023 Gambling White Paper was published.

The White Paper was one of the most significant publications in the history of gambling in the UK, setting out more than 60 proposals to update the country’s gambling laws.

Among the terms recommended were affordability checks, improved identification checks, a statutory levy, and a cap on the maximum stakes on online slots at £5 for older adults and £2 for younger adults.

The end of Miller’s time at the Commission has crossed over with the beginning of the implementation of increased online taxation in the UK. Remote gaming duty, paid on online casino bets, was raised from 21% of gross gambling yield (GGY) to 40% in April, and general betting duty, paid on online sports bets, will go up from 15% of GGY to 25% in April 2027; bets on horseracing will be exempt from this.

What next for Miller?

The Commission said Miller will take up a new role outside the British regulated gambling industry, working with governments, regulators and other organisations that are developing and overseeing gambling regulatory systems across the world.

Governance has been an important part of Miller’s career, as he was previously Head of Public Affairs for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman from 2010 to 2012.

This was followed by a spell as Head of Policy and Communications for the Local Government Ombudsman for England from 2012 to 2016, prior to taking up his role with the Commission. Alongside his job with the Commission, Miller has served as a Member of the Board of Directors for the Gaming Regulators European Forum.

Miller posted on LinkedIn:

“The Commission has been the most enjoyable and fulfilling part of my career so far and I’ve been so lucky to work with such brilliant people who care deeply about getting regulation right. But for me, 10 years always felt like the right point to take on a new challenge.

“I’ve always been a public servant but am now looking forward to working for myself. This is going to include working internationally with a number of governments, regulators and organisations that are focused on supporting the development of well‑regulated and competitive markets. More on that later in September after my last day at the Commission.”

A void to be filled

Miller’s departure leaves another void at the Commission, after Andrew Rhodes left the position of Chief Executive in April. Sarah Gardner is currently in place as Acting Chief Executive while a replacement is found.