The UK Government’s Secretary of State has appointed Charles Counsell as interim Chair of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
Serving a nine-month term as interim Chair from 1 February 2025, Counsell will be replacing Marcus Boyle, who will be stepping down as Chair at the end of January next year.
Counsell has been a Senior Independent Director for the UKGC since April 2024. Previously, he was the CEO of The Pensions Regulator from April 2019 to March 2023.
During his time at The Pensions Regulator, Counsell helped to develop a corporate strategy to make the pension saver a priority for the organisation’s work, in addition to delivering the regulator’s first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Climate Change strategies.
He has also served as CEO of the Money Advice Service and Executive Director of Automatic Enrolment at The Pensions Regulator.
Leaving the UKGC at the end of next month, Boyle has been Chair of the Commission since September 2021. His term was initially set to expire on 4 September 2026.
In November, Baroness Twycross, Minister for Gambling, said on Boyle’s departure: “The past three years have been very significant for the Commission, as it takes forward measures set out in the Gambling Act Review and the start of the fourth National Lottery licence.
“I am grateful for Marcus’s hard work and commitment to the Gambling Commission and public service over his tenure and wish him the best for his future endeavours.”
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has announced Stake as the official betting sponsor of both the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean Cup by Gainbridge.
An extension to the existing partnership was confirmed this week after what the International Tennis Federation describes as ‘rigorous due diligence’ conducted in accordance with ITF rules for betting sponsorship and in consultation with the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
Stake will continue as the competitions’ global partner until at least the end of the 2026 season. Details of the deal’s exact terms are scarce, but the release promises courtside branding and sponsored content across social media channels.
Akhil Sarin, Chief Marketing Officer for Stake, commented, “We are delighted and extremely proud to become the official betting partner of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. Tennis is a universally popular sport, and these competitions are two of the most passionately followed across the globe. We look forward to some exciting initiatives spread across the tennis calendar and working with the ITF to promote the sport to our worldwide audience.”
Stake has promised to ‘promote and enhance’ the fan experience across both events. The company is ‘aiming to bring supporters closer to the on-court action’.
Australia-headquartered Stake has a comprehensive sponsorship portfolio across the world of sport and popular culture. Headline sponsorships include English Premier League outfit Everton, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and the Stake Formula One team. Both superstar Drake and footballing great Sergio Aguero also hold brand ambassador roles with the gambling company.
David Haggerty, ITF President, added, “We are excited to announce these partnerships as we look to build on the success of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge in 2023. We thank our partners for their continued support, and we look forward to working with Stake, whose track record across a range of major international events speaks for itself.
Regarding the selection process, he continued, “Protecting tennis integrity is at the center of all we do, and we are pleased to partner with Stake – an organization with a portfolio of high-profile clients, a stated commitment to responsible business practices and significant reach among global sports fans – having conducted rigorous due diligence in line with ITF rules for betting sponsorship, which were developed in consultation with the ITIA.”
In August last year, Stake entered the Peruvian market after the regulator granted it both casino and sportsbook licenses. It also partnered with FCB Melgar, a Peruvian football team with a stadium capacity of over 60,000. The Stake logo will feature across the men’s, women’s, and Liga 3 team kits.
