Anna Hargrave has been appointed Transition CEO for independent UK charity-funded body GambleAware, ahead of its planned closure in March next year.
Hargrave has been with GambleAware since 2021, acting as both Deputy CEO and Chief Strategy and Commissioning Officer.
She will replace Zoe Osmond, who has served GambleAware for seven years and took over as CEO in 2021.
Osmond will step down on September 30, leaving Hargrave to oversee the managed closure of the charity by March 31, 2026.
Its work will then transition to the UK government, which is adopting a new statutory framework for combating gambling-related problems and research.
What Does GambleAware Do?
The independent organisation has historically commissioned research and reports to support public health campaigns, education, harm prevention and treatment services centred around problems brought about by gambling.
At the start of this year, a GambleAware report found slots and online casinos posed the highest risk of gambling harm in Great Britain.
The report conducted by Bournemouth University found that electronic gaming machines, commonly found in bookmakers, were the riskiest gambling product.
Casino games ranked as the second most harmful with online casinos amplifying risks due to their rapid-play mechanics and high reinforcement rates.
Sports betting sites were also placed in the high-risk category and in particular in-play betting offered during live events by most UK sports betting apps.
What They Said
Incoming Transition CEO Anna Hargrave said: “Firstly, I want to thank Zoë for her leadership and support over the years, which has helped GambleAware achieve its ambition to see gambling harm positioned as a public health issue.
“The final six months are critical for the smooth transfer and transition to the new system and I am delighted to be taking on this role.
“I look forward to continuing to work with the new commissioners as they get to grips with their new responsibilities within the statutory system and will work with them to ensure their efforts build upon the current system’s achievements and insights to ensure learnings are carried forward.”
Zoe Osmond said: “It has been a huge privilege to lead and work at GambleAware over the past seven years.
“The sector has undergone significant transformation during this time, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved—particularly our commitment to embedding the voices of the lived experience community at the heart of everything we do.
“Few charities can truly say they’ve delivered on their founding mission, but GambleAware and the exceptional team behind it have played a pivotal role in reframing gambling harms as a public health issue and helped to shape the foundations of the new gambling harms prevention and treatment system.
“I’m delighted that Anna will be taking the reins for the next critical period, leading the charity through the completion of its transition to the new system.
“Her commissioning expertise and insight as Deputy CEO means she is well placed to complete our vital work.”
Jim Munro is a betting industry and gambling expert who has been a national newspaper journalist for over 30 years, predominantly at The Sunday Times and The Sun, where he wrote a weekly soccer betting column. Jim also worked on the launch of Virgin Bet with Gamesys and was subsequently head of editorial at LiveScore, the sports media and betting group.
