New GambleAware CEO Anna Hargrave appointed to oversee closure
As GambleAware prepares to wind down by March 2026 under a new statutory levy set to raise £100 million annually, Anna Hargrave has been confirmed as the new CEO of GambleAware, tasked with overseeing the charity’s closure.
Leadership transition
On 30 September 2025, Zoë Osmond OBE closes a seven-year chapter at GambleAware, four of them at the helm. She helped turn the charity into a public health voice, opening up treatment to more people and putting gambling harm on the national stage.
Hargrave, now Chief Commissioning and Strategy Officer and Deputy CEO, will step into the role in October 2025. She joined in 2021 following over 13 years in senior NHS leadership, including a post at NHS England. With an MBA from the University of Warwick, she is noted for her strength in organisational development, change management and stakeholder engagement. The new GambleAware CEO will use those skills to guide the charity through its final chapter.
Closure timeline and transition
The new GambleAware CEO will oversee the closure, with its responsibilities in research, education and treatment moving to statutory commissioners across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The transformation coincides with the introduction of the government’s statutory levy, which will replace voluntary industry contributions. Licensed operators will contribute between 0.1 and 1.1 percent of their gross gambling yield, the revenue kept after paying out winnings, and the levy will generate about £100 million a year. The first payments are due on 1 October 2025.
The government argued that voluntary contributions from operators had become inconsistent and insufficient, prompting calls for a statutory system to guarantee accountability and sustainable funding.
The role of the new GambleAware CEO
As Transition CEO, Hargrave’s primary task will be to ensure a smooth handover to the statutory system while maintaining continuity of support.
She described the final six months as being “critical for the smooth transfer and transition to the new system,” adding that commissioners must “build upon the current system’s achievements and insights to ensure learnings are carried forward.”
The new GambleAware CEO stressed that protecting service users must remain the top priority throughout the transition.
GambleAware’s legacy
The footprint of GambleAware is hard to miss. Osmond helped turn the story of gambling harm into a public health issue, rather than a footnote. Campaigns reached tens of thousands, while the helpline handled around 42,000 calls per year — real voices, real lives in need of support. GambleAware recently called on The National Lottery to feature health warnings and signpost support services on its tickets and advertising, publishing tested messages such as “Gambling comes at a cost” and “Gambling can be addictive.”
Under Osmond, GambleAware also launched high-profile campaigns such as Bet Regret, which became a recognised public-awareness drive highlighting risky gambling behaviour. Reflecting on her time at GambleAware, Osmond said: “Few charities can truly say they have delivered on their founding mission, but GambleAware and the exceptional team have played a pivotal role in reframing gambling harm as a public health issue.”
She received an OBE in 2025 for her contribution.
Industry reaction
The transition has sparked both support and concern. Baroness Twycross, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care, welcomed the appointment of Hargrave as the new GambleAware CEO, stating it is a positive step in ensuring continuity.
For Andy Boucher, Chair of Trustees, Hargrave’s NHS grounding is the factor that makes her well-placed to steer GambleAware through its final phase.
In contrast, Jordan Lea, CEO of Deal Me Out, criticised the process as “a stain on the implementation of the statutory levy,” highlighting job losses and the risk of further instability caused by “mismanaged government policy.” Lea highlighted recent redundancies in the gambling-harm sector and warned that poor management of the transition could threaten frontline services.
Looking ahead
GambleAware’s site and resources will remain available until the closure date. After April 2026, oversight moves to NHS England, OHID and UK Research and Innovation, while devolved governments in Scotland and Wales will take charge of their regions.
The sector will watch Hargrave closely as she guides the funding transition, using her NHS experience to protect GambleAware’s public-health legacy.
