The Gamstop Group has appointed former Labour politician Chris Pond as its new chair following the departure of Jenny Watson.
An MP for Gravesham between 1997 and 2005, Pond also served on the Social Security Select Committee, as Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Treasury and later as a minister in the Department for Work and Pensions. He is currently chair of the Money and Mental Health Advisory Board and the Financial Services Consumer Panel at the Financial Conduct Authority, and has previously chaired the Financial Inclusion Commission and served as the CEO of two national charities.
Pond took over in September from Watson, who served as chair for seven years, and paid tribute to her for giving the Gamstop Group “a strong foundation and clear purpose”. He said there was now an opportunity to build on her legacy at a time of significant change in the industry, with the statutory levy bringing new funding and accountability and a more evidence-based approach to preventing gambling harm.
“The Gamstop Group can play a key role in providing data and insights to inform research and policy and collaborating on prevention initiatives that align with national priorities. This is a moment to deepen our impact and reinforce our commitment to public protection, ensuring self-exclusion remains accessible, effective, and responsive to user needs,” Pond said.
He also highlighted the potential for greater collaboration with the financial services industry as firms increasingly recognise their role in supporting vulnerable customers, including those affected by gambling harms. Potential partnerships, he suggested, could include data sharing and early intervention, embedding self-exclusion tools into banking apps and platforms and joint awareness campaigns to promote responsible gambling and financial wellbeing.
On the organisation’s immediate priorities, Pond pointed to strengthening the operational integration between the national online self-exclusion scheme GAMSTOP and the betting shops self-exclusion scheme MOSES to ensure a seamless user experience. He also wants to increase awareness of self-exclusion tools, especially among vulnerable and under-represented groups, and to build strategic partnerships with regulators, treatment providers and other industry stakeholders.
Working with the Gambling Commission to monitor and report illegal operators targeting vulnerable consumers, GAMSTOP has contributed to the removal of promotional content and websites following cease and desist actions by the regulator.
The platform’s latest campaign, the annual Self-Exclusion Day, took place on 18 September 2025 with support from clubs across all four divisions of English football. The headline message, “Change the Game”, urged fans experiencing gambling harm to “take back control and enjoy the football”. A total of 29 social media posts went live on the day across X, Instagram and Facebook, reaching a combined following of 9.1 million.
Beyond social media, clubs such as Crystal Palace FC also raised awareness of GAMSTOP’s services through stadium advertising during the game closest to Self-Exclusion Day and in matchday programmes.
“Reaching sports audiences is crucial. Football and other sports are closely linked to gambling advertising and sponsorship, and many fans may be at risk or know someone who is,” Pond said. “By partnering with clubs and sports organisations, we can raise awareness in high-risk environments and promote positive messages about self-care and support.”