Chris Pond Steps In As Chair Of GamStop

he GamStop Group has confirmed a leadership change, with Chris Pond taking over as chair following Jenny Watson CBE’s seven-year tenure.

Good to know

• GamStop is the UK’s national online gambling self-exclusion program.
• Chris Pond brings both political and regulatory experience to the role.
• Data and collaboration with banks are expected to become central in upcoming initiatives.

Watson, who provided direction since the scheme’s early years, earned praise from her successor. “She gave the group a strong foundation and clear purpose,” Pond said, acknowledging her work in building credibility and trust.

Pond’s appointment reflects his extensive background in financial and social policy. He chairs the Money and Mental Health advisory board and the Financial Services Consumer Panel at the Financial Conduct Authority. He also previously chaired the Financial Inclusion Commission, led two national charities as CEO, and served as work and pensions minister during his time in Parliament.

Speaking about his vision, Pond said the GamStop Group is “uniquely positioned to play a leading role in the national strategy to reduce gambling harms.” He added that the program is not only about providing exclusion tools but also about shaping broader policy:

“The GamStop Group can play a key role in providing data and insights to inform research and policy and collaborating on prevention initiatives that align with national priorities. This is a moment to deepen our impact and reinforce our commitment to public protection, ensuring self-exclusion remains accessible, effective and responsive to user needs.”

His comments point toward a growing emphasis on collaboration across industries.  Pond further explained:

“There is scope for data sharing and early intervention, where financial behaviour may signal risk; embedding self-exclusion tools into banking apps and platforms; and joint awareness campaigns to promote responsible gambling and financial wellbeing.”

The focus on integrating gambling protection into financial services is a notable shift. Regulators and operators have increasingly discussed the potential for banks to play a direct role in prevention by helping consumers identify risky patterns earlier.

GamStop, already mandated for licensed UK operators, has grown into a critical layer of the country’s safer gambling framework. With Pond at the helm, the program is expected to push deeper into research, cross-sector partnerships, and consumer-facing innovations designed to strengthen protection.

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