Andrew Rhodes, the former Gambling Commission Chief Executive Officer, has landed a new role that is drawing sharp criticism from across the gambling industry.
Rhodes has been appointed as a Principal Consultant at Hawkbridge, a consultancy firm owned by Harris Hagan, marking his transition from regulator to industry advisor.
The appointment has triggered a wave of negative reactions from prominent figures who feel strongly that the move raises serious questions about accountability and conduct.
Among the most pointed criticisms circulating in response to the news is the blunt assessment that “politics is rotten,” a sentiment clearly shared by more than a few industry observers.
Another reaction describes the appointment as “incompetence rewarded,” a phrase that captures the frustration felt by those who were critical of Rhodes’ tenure at the Gambling Commission.
A third reaction labelled the situation an “affordability checks shambles,” a direct reference to one of the most controversial policy areas Rhodes oversaw during his time as Chief Executive Officer.
Affordability checks were among the most debated regulatory measures proposed under the Gambling Commission’s watch, attracting sustained opposition from operators, punters, and trade bodies alike.
Critics argued that the checks were poorly designed and would cause significant disruption to customers without delivering meaningful harm reduction benefits.
Rhodes served as the Gambling Commission’s Chief Executive Officer before departing the regulator and moving into his new consultancy position at Hawkbridge.
The consultancy firm Hawkbridge operates under the ownership of Harris Hagan, a well-established law firm that specialises in gambling regulation and compliance matters.
The appointment of a former senior regulator to a consultancy role advising the very industry he once oversaw is a path that has historically attracted scrutiny in many regulated sectors.
For many in the gambling industry, the strength of the reaction reflects deeper frustrations about the direction of gambling regulation in Great Britain in recent years.
Whether the backlash will have any lasting impact on Rhodes’ new position or on the broader conversation around regulatory accountability remains to be seen.
