Gambling Commission Names Sue Young Executive Director of Operations

The Gambling Commission has appointed Sue Young as executive director of operations, adding a senior public sector leader as the regulator continues work on enforcement, compliance and illegal market activity in Great Britain. The appointment was announced on March 16, 2026.

Good to Know

• Sue Young joins the Gambling Commission from HMRC, where she was Director of Debt Management.
• Her background also includes senior work at the Home Office, Border Force, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, and the Department of Health and Social Care.
• The role covers key operational areas as the regulator keeps focus on safer gambling, anti money laundering work and the illegal market.

Sue Young Takes Senior Operations Role at Gambling Commission

Sue Young is heading into a new sector, but she is arriving with a long record in public service. The Gambling Commission said Young will lead a number of operational functions as the regulator continues its work to keep gambling “safer, fairer and crime free.”

Before joining the Commission, Young held the role of Director of Debt Management at HMRC. Her career also includes senior posts across government, with experience tied to Border Force operations, inspection work across constabulary and fire and rescue services, and health policy and administration. That kind of background could matter as the regulator keeps balancing licensing, compliance checks, enforcement work and anti money laundering controls across the gambling sector.

“I’m excited to be joining the Gambling Commission and to be learning about a new sector” Young said of the move.

Her appointment lands at a time when the Gambling Commission is still heavily focused on operator standards, illegal gambling activity and wider regulatory reform. The regulator has recently highlighted enforcement cases, illegal market action and consultation work as part of its broader agenda.

Young also said: “The Commission plays an important role in protecting consumers and ensuring gambling is conducted fairly and safely. I’m looking forward to building on the significant work already underway across the organisation.”

Illegal Market Work Stays Front and Center

Acting chief executive Sarah Gardner made clear where part of the focus sits. “I’m delighted to welcome Sue to the Gambling Commission,” Gardner added. “There is a great deal of important work underway across our operational teams, not least our continued focus on tackling the illegal market and delivering strong regulatory outcomes.”

That wording matters. Illegal gambling has stayed high on the Commission agenda, alongside anti money laundering duties and day to day regulatory oversight. With a new executive director of operations now in place, the appointment could shape how resources are directed across licensing decisions, compliance assessments and enforcement priorities in the months ahead.

Gardner also said: “Sue brings a wealth of operational leadership experience and I’m very much looking forward to working with her.”

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