Listen to this article:The Bingo Association has announced the appointment of Nicole Garrett as its next Chief Executive Officer. Garrett will begin her new job in spring 2026, and she will be replacing long-standing CEO Miles Baron, who will step down at the end of June 2026 after 14 years in the role.
Many are calling the change a generational shift for the industry at a time when bingo operators, both land-based and online bingo sites, are dealing with changing player behaviour, the evolution of online bingo, and ever-increasing scrutiny from politicians and the gambling regulator. The appointment of Garrett is part of a joint succession plan that was agreed upon by the Bingo Association (BA), the National Bingo Game Association (NBGA), and Meeron Limited.
Nicole Garrett has a huge amount of experience in the fields of gambling regulation, public affairs, and responsible gaming. At the moment, she works as the Group Head of Responsible Gaming at Allwyn International, where her job is to oversee safer-play strategy and cross-market initiatives for the company’s global lottery and entertainment portfolio.
Before joining Allwyn, Garrett held several senior roles within the UK’s gambling industry, including Head of Corporate Affairs at bet365 and Head of Policy at the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). In her various roles, she has worked closely with regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders and has developed an excellent reputation for her understanding of regulatory reform and social responsibility frameworks.
The boards of the BA, NBGA, and Meeron welcomed her appointment, stating:
“Nicole brings an exceptional breadth of experience from across the wider gaming sector, with a strong track record in policy development, regulatory engagement, and responsible gaming. We are confident she will provide outstanding leadership as the bingo industry navigates an evolving regulatory and commercial landscape.”
As mentioned, Garrett is taking over from Miles Baron, who has led the Bingo Association since 2012 after joining from Mecca Bingo. During his time, Baron guided the association through some extremely challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the lengthy review of the Gambling Act.
He has been widely praised for helping to protect bingo’s position within the gambling industry and for his work championing bingo’s role in local communities. One of his most notable recent successes was the abolition of bingo duty in the government’s budget.
Garrett herself acknowledged Baron’s contribution, praising him for “an incredible job championing the industry and securing the abolition of Bingo Duty in the Budget.”
After accepting her new position, Garrett said:
“I am thrilled to be joining the Bingo Association, the National Bingo Game Association and Meeron at such an important time for the bingo industry. Bingo plays a unique and valued role within local communities, and I look forward to working closely with members and stakeholders to support the sector and help shape its future.”
In her new role, Garrett will immediately have to deal with the increasing focus on gambling regulation. In recent debates in the House of Commons, there have been calls for greater intervention in the licensing of local gambling establishments, including bingo halls, and some ministers believe that these venues should no longer be exempt from tighter local licensing rules.
However, it is clear that Garrett truly believes in bingo’s value to communities.
The appointment of Nicole Garrett is expected to bring focus on balancing the game’s traditional role with innovation by supporting bingo halls while also embracing digital development, ensuring responsible gaming standards remain high, and representing the sector’s interests during the ongoing regulatory debate and reform.
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