The HBLB (Great Britain’s Horserace Betting Levy Board) have announced former William Hill chief Roger Devlin as their new chairman – having been appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport – Lisa Nandy.
Roger Devlin Will Replace Anne Lambert As HBLB Chairman
Anne Lambert has served as the HBLB chairman since Paul Darling passed away in August 2024 but will now hand over the reins to Roger Devlin.
Devlin was formerly with William Hill and Gamesys and is regarded in the industry as an very experienced executive, making the appointment an exciting one for UK horse racing that has been coming under pressure in recent years.
The new head has also been chairman of Persimmon Homes, a leading housebuilding company, since 2018.
With that role running alongside his William Hill job that saw him with one of the best betting sites in the UK between February 2018 and April 2021.
Roger Devlin’s Past Roles
Before Devlin’s William Hill role he’d been chairman of hotel and pub company Marston’s for just under five years.
And has also been a former chair of Porthaven and broadcast provider SIS Live, who has been responsible for streaming live horse racing pictures to UK betting shops.
Gamesy, who are a leading online gaming provider and now part of Bally’s, also had Roger Devlin as their chairman over a 10-year period.
He also spent six and a half years at the English Football Association as an independent director.
While Devlin’s new role as the Great Britain’s Horserace Betting Levy Board chairman will link his connections to the sport – being a horse racing owner.
Devlin has horses with trainers Anthony Honeyball and William Muir, plus was involved in Muir’s classy Group One winner Pyledriver who landed the 2022 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and won just over £2m in total prize money during his 20-race career.
Devlin Committed To Investing In Horse Racing
After Roger Devlin was announced as the new HBLB chairman he commented on his own appointment.
“My focus will be consistent with the Levy’s key objectives – to promote investment and employment in racing; to enhance racehorse welfare wherever possible; to improve the reputation of the sport and thereby generate increased interest,” Devlin said.
“I look forward to working with my fellow board members and the wider team, as well as racing and betting organisations, in pursuit of these goals.”
While it’s also been no secret that the HBLB have been clear in their opposition over any proposed changes in tax rates in Britain to betting providers.
With a recent survey by the BGC also suggesting increasing UK gambling tax would turn bettors to the black market sites.
As back in April the UK treasury announced a proposal for changing three online betting tax rates with a new single rate. With this launching on May 6th and closing on July 21st.
But the HBLB has said that his tax move would place a concern on online casinos in the UK and gaming sites, plus also the horse racing sector which relies heavily on betting and tax to operate.
Andy is an experienced betting and gambling journalist with over 20 years industry experience. He brings an excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and industry gambling news.
