Neil Goulden steps down as Chair of RGT

The Responsible Gambling Trust (RGT) has announced that Neil Goulden is to retire from his role as a trustee and chair of the charity that raises funds from the gambling industry operating in Britain to fund research, treatment and harm-prevention activities.

Goulden became the charity’s chair when it was launched in 2011 and he has overseen five successful years that have established stability and confidence in the voluntary arrangements that exist to minimise gambling-related harm throughout Britain.

With RGT’s annual fundraising now exceeding £6.5million, improved confidence in the commissioning of treatment services, positive engagement of industry in research and harm- prevention, and improved understanding of the role and brand-value of GambleAware.

Neil Goulden commented on his tenure at RGT:

“After five years as chair of RGT, I feel the time is right to stand down. Following a baptism of fire in 2011, I am proud that RGT has grown into a financially and operationally stable charity that does exceptional work in minimising gambling-related harm. The new chair will inherit a strong financial position, an ambitious five year plan and an exceptional executive team, led by Marc Etches. I wish Marc and his team, and my fellow trustees every success going forward and I will watch with interest the continued positive evolution of the harm minimisation agenda in the gambling sector.”

Marc Etches, Chief Executive of the Responsible Gambling Trust, said:

“Neil has been an outstanding chairman, who used his widely respected position within the industry to establish a universal commitment by operators to funding voluntarily research, education and treatment which addresses gambling related harm. He is absolutely committed to minimising gambling-related harm and without his ability to gain sufficient confidence and engagement from the industry, the regulator and government, RGT would not be as well placed as it is today to meet its charitable objectives. Neil’s leadership and wise counsel will be greatly missed and we thank him and wish him well for the future.”

RGT’s senior independent trustee, Professor Jo Wolff, will lead an open and transparent process to appoint a new chairperson, and Neil has agreed to continue as chair of the board of trustees until a new chair is in place.