GambleAware Appoints New CEO Ahead of Company Closure

Anna Hargreaves has been appointed as the interim CEO of GambleAware, succeeding Zoe Osmond, who will step down on September 30, 2025. Hargreaves will oversee the organization's closure, which is scheduled for March 31, 2026. This decision was announced a month ago.
GambleAware is the leading UK charity dedicated to combating gambling addiction. The UK government is reforming the funding for research, education, and treatment related to gambling, which will now be financed through a state levy. As part of these changes, the government will close GambleAware and transfer its functions to government bodies in England, Scotland, and Wales.
In its official statement, GambleAware noted that Hargreaves will manage the transition to the new system for compensating gambling-related harm, as well as the charity's closure. She will also be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization until the end of March 2026.
Hargreaves has been part of GambleAware's leadership for some time and previously worked for the National Health Service. She has held positions as Deputy CEO and Director of Strategy and Implementation, making her well-acquainted with the organization. Hargreaves expressed her gratitude to Osmond for her work and support, which played a crucial role in raising awareness about the risks associated with gambling.
Osmond remarked that it has been an honor to work at GambleAware for seven years, highlighting the positive transformations in the industry during her tenure: "Few charities can claim to have fulfilled their foundational mission. However, the GambleAware team has played a key role in rethinking gambling harm as a public health issue and has helped lay the groundwork for a new system of prevention and treatment for gambling addiction."
Notably, Philippine operators have launched the PlaySafe Alliance of the Philippines, an industry initiative aimed at enhancing safety and strengthening oversight within the sector.