hello viewers Tim Paul here editor of gaming Insider and I'm here speaking exclusively with Michael Dugger uh CEO to become chair of the betting gamer Council uh Michael thanks for joining us and how are you very good I think we've had an excellent uh session for our annual general meeting it was brilliant to have not just the minister but the shadow Minister uh as well and also the chief executive of the gambling commission so I think and we had a great turnout of members from across the sector from online to um traditional book making and Bingo and uh casinos so I think we've had a fantastic turnout CEOs here as well so uh been a very very uh very productive session I think how do you reflect on wide as as at ND for the last sort of three AGS including this one um probably the most politically integrated one we've had yet as as you mention all the kind of guests we've had we'll speak about specifically about Mr Andrew roads uh I'm going to ask you about in a second but um how do you reflect on I guess what is an achievement for the BGC in getting so many different voices to the to the party so to speak I think as I said at the uh in my opening remarks I think it's a great tribute not just to the BGC uh but to our members and to The Wider industry you know if I'm being honest um four and a half years ago um when I was first uh appointed the industry was in a very difficult position and reputationally had um had taken um quite a lot of stick I think in in some cases unfairly in some cases uh understandably uh and we've worked really hard over the last four years to kind of turn the tanker on that and actually show the contribution that the industry makes you know as Stephanie peacock put it the shadow Minister you know to our culture um and uh and our communities you know to the economy you know points that again have been acknowledged across uh government as as well so I S saw it as a as a as a sign really that um that the industry uh is respected is engaged with and is listened to and and we've got that kind of pull now and uh and I'm just delighted for for all the different parts of the industry but most importantly for the people who work in the industry um and our customers too because I think they deserve a voice in all of this so as we mentioned uh tou briefly the gambling commission CEO Andrew rhods um was here big coup for for the AGM um again as as as a neutral party watching he was he was very strong in the face of critical questions um I thought he spoke really well um how do you reflect on the fact that he was here because you importantly mentioned that he doesn't need to be here he has a lot of things he could be doing otherwise with his time and how you reflect on sort of how he did I guess I think um what we saw from Andrew today I think is is really symbolic of uh of of how he runs the GC I think I've said this before the GC you know there'll be plenty of occasions when my members will be moaning about um the regulator that's what you do if you're in a regulated uh industry of course but I think he has been a transformative figure in terms of um the regulated sector I think the GC uh Now is better LED than it uh than it ever has been we cannot fault the engagement we get from the GC look we're not going to like every outcome every decision uh will have U significant concerns and direction of travel in all kinds of areas and it's for us to to make our case and to to Slug It Out with them but I don't think we can fault his engagement the amount of time that he puts in with the industry and look you know the fact that he is talking to all the different sectors within the industry spending that time you can only hope that that makes for better uh more informed uh decisions and uh and I hope we're seeing that too mhm um a question for you personally any emotions for your last AGM as CEO and also obviously with the presentation you did all beit a bit of gritted teeth with the forest Leicester rivalry but with uh Bridget Simmons who is outgoing as chair I think John Peno described it as a Bittersweet uh moment I mean Bridget Simmons has been my boss for the last four years she hired me and brought me into this uh industry um she's been the best boss I've ever had um she's been an excellent uh chair of the of the BGC you know she really did play um a critical role in bringing the industry together but also getting its act together um and she's been able to to do that and and she has been a a huge champion of safer gambling and has made that front and center uh of everything that we've done and has has ensured that the BGC as much as being a representative body has been a standards body and I think that's the uh that's the Legacy that that she uh leaves us and certainly I am very conscious in taking over as as chair that you know that they are very big shoes to to fill she's been a superb uh chairman and Ambassador for this uh industry and you know this this event today has been a lot about celebrating past success but I think recognizing that we've got significant challenges going forward and I think there's a lot we can learn from uh from Bridget's leadership in the last four years um a final question for me looking ahead um any updates for for the viewers on the uh the appointment of the next CEO the person who'll be basically sitting in in your share this time next year so we've got a recruiter in place uh We've uh been advertising the uh role I think we've had a lot of applications as uh as we would hope and expect um I think it's a a job CEO the betting gaming Council you know may not be for the fainthearted um it's a it's a tough job I know that probably better than uh anyone um but it is a good job you know um this is a great industry you know might not be everyone's cup of tea I will say half of all adults enjoy a bet on a regular basis half of adults don't that's okay I was a joke you know don't think it should be compulsory um but for people who enjoy a flutter um whether it's on sports racing or football or whether it's um Bingo or you know whether they play the lottery or um where they enjoy online gaming um or whatever it is you know I think people recognize it's fundamental part of British culture um it's a huge part of our economy you know we have a responsibility to speak up for millions of customers and tens of thousands of people who work in the industry and I think the CEO of the BGC the next CEO you know has a unique role to play in that and it's a big responsibility it's a big job but it can also be a very rewarding one we you know we have driven so so many changes and and standards in safer gambling over the last four years you know the next CEO will will take on that that role so it's not an easy job but I think it's a good job and I'm confident we're going to get lots of good candidates and and it'll be a tough decision I think for uh for all of us who are involved in that in that recruitment but I feel very optimistic about about the future I think there's a lot of talent out there and I'm you know in my new role as chair I'm looking forward to working with uh whoever gets that uh CEO job and build on the success that Bridget and others have uh have created and we can take um take the BGC from strength to strength well Michael thank you very much for your time good luck with the search and best of luck with everything else that it's a busy time for the BGC this year great thank you Tim