National lottery faces questions over new boss’s record in gambling industry
MPs tell regulator they are ‘deeply concerned’ over interim CEO Phil Walker’s roles at William Hill and Game Nation The national lottery is facing questions over its new boss’s record in the gambling industry, including a lucrative role in the 24-hour slot machine sector singled out by the prime minister as a blight on British high streets. Allwyn UK, which holds a licence to run the Lottery…
The national lottery is facing scrutiny over the appointment of Phil Walker as its interim CEO, despite his controversial history in the gambling industry. Labour MP Dawn Butler and Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith have expressed deep concern, citing Walker's role at William Hill and his position with Game Nation. At William Hill, a regulator imposed a personal sanction on Walker in 2024 for failing to enforce money laundering and terrorist financing controls, resulting in a record £19.2m fine.
Game Nation, a UK adult gaming centre chain, faces criticism for its 24-hour slot machine locations, often referred to as "slot farms." These venues, which are often open round the clock, have been targeted by former mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, for their perceived targeting of vulnerable communities. The lottery, which is set to continue under the Gambling Commission's 10-year licence, is valued at £6.5bn in revenue over a decade.
Walker is expected to earn over £50,000 from his role at Game Nation, a company with a controversial past that includes an employment tribunal case involving a former employee who paid a homeless man to defecate in the shop toilet after being forced to clear it up.
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