SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Yvette Cooper MP, UK Secretary of State, has announced Roger Devlin as the new Chair of the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB).
Devlin will hold the reins for a total period of four years, with his term beginning 1 July 2025 and ending on 30 June 2029, with the possibility of renewal.
Expansive career
The new Horserace Betting Levy Board Chair is currently very active in various social sectors, being the Chair of FTSE-listed housebuilder company Persimmon, as well as the Director of mobility charity Sutton Trust.
Devlin also boasts a vast career portfolio within the sports sector. He was previously the Senior Independent Director of the Football Association.
Another one of his high-profile sports tenures includes a stint as the Chairman of the Sunningdale Golf Club, as well as a Board Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) – a golf governing body.
Within the gambling sector, Devlin was previously the Chair of William Hill prior to the company’s 2022 acquisition by Caesars. In addition, he was also the Chair of iGaming business Gamesys.
An avid horse racing fan, the new Betting Levy Board Chair owns horses in training, and was the co-owner of Pyledrive – the winning horse of the King George and Coronation Cup.
Navigating shifting regulations
Devlin steps in as the new Chair of the Horserace Betting Levy Board at an interesting time for the UK gambling industry.
For one, he will have to guide the HBLB through the new Research, Education and Treatment (RET) statutory Levy that was enforced on 6 April.
In addition, his responsibilities will include liaising with the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS), the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), and various other industry stakeholders on the effects of the new affordability checks rollout.
On top of that, Devlin will need to ensure that the HBLB delivers on its public interest agenda, responsibly allocate levy funds towards the betterment of UK horse racing, and be held accountable if he falls short of senior leadership expectations.
