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
Roger Devlin Appointed New HBLB ChairmanDevlin 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.
Roger Devlin Appointed New HBLB Chairman Roger Devlin Appointed New HBLB ChairmanWhile 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.
Roger Devlin Appointed New HBLB Chairman Roger Devlin Appointed New HBLB ChairmanWhile 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.
