Clive Hawkswood has joined gambling governance consultancy Gambling Integrity, where he will work to develop and enhance the group’s Pre-Audit Review service.

This aims to provide operators with a regulatory perspective before they are audited, inspected, or have licences reviewed by the UK Gambling Commission.

Hawkswood joins the group following his chairmanship of Responsible Affiliates in Gamblingprior to which he served as chief executive of the UK’s Remote Gambling Association from August 2004 to January 2019 where he represented the industry’s interests with a range of international regulators and governments.

Furthermore, Hawkswood was also a board member of GambleAware for numerous years, as well as being  the first chairperson of Gamstop, the national online self-exclusion system.

“It is always better to seek out and address any regulatory failings, especially where they relate to player protection, before they are identified by the Gambling Commission,” Hawkswood noted. 

“With operator boards being held directly responsible for serious breaches, I am sure that more than ever they will want to have the fullest confidence in the controls and systems within their companies. 

“I am delighted to now be part of the Gambling Integrity team working with our clients to ensure their boards are fully briefed on the steps they need to take to maximise regulatory compliance and good corporate governance.”

Gambling Integrity helps organisations focus on safer gambling, by training and mentoring staff, advising on sustainable business models, and ensuring regulatory compliance

Malcolm Bruce, founder of Gambling Integrity, added: “Clive brings huge depth of knowledge of the online gambling industry together with a deep commitment to player protection and the prevention of gambling-related harm. 

“He will be working with us to develop and enhance our Pre-Audit Review service, which provides reassurance to operators that they are in good shape from a regulatory perspective before they are audited, inspected, or have their licences reviewed by the British Gambling Commission.”