UK Bingo Trade Group Picks Nicole Garrett to Steer Future Strategy

_{Nicole Garrett Appointed CEO of UK Bingo Association as Miles Baron Prepares to Leave. (Image: The Bingo Association Limited)}

The Bingo Association (BA), the National Bingo Game Association (NBGA) and Meeron have appointed Nicole Garrett as their next chief executive officer, the organisations announced Thursday.

Garrett will take up the leadership role in Spring 2026, succeeding Miles Baron, who is stepping down at the end of June after more than a decade at the helm. The appointment was made jointly by the chairmen of the three organisations as part of a planned succession process.

Garrett Brings Policy and Regulatory Experience to the Bingo Sector

Bingo sector faces pressure from regulation and online rivalsGarrett currently serves as Group Head of Responsible Gaming at Allwyn Group, the operator of the UK National Lottery and a global entertainment portfolio. In that role she has led international initiatives to promote safer play across gaming markets.

Her career also includes senior positions as Head of Corporate Affairs at bet365 and Head of Policy at the Betting and Gaming Council, where she worked on regulatory reform, public policy and stakeholder engagement across the wider gambling sector.

“Bingo plays a unique and valued role within local communities,” Garrett said in a statement on her appointment. 

“I am very much looking forward to working closely with members and stakeholders to support the sector and help shape its future.”

Chairmen Praise Her Leadership as Industry Enters Key Phase

The chairmen of the BA, NBGA and Meeron said Garrett brings deep experience from across the gaming industry, highlighting her background in regulation, policy development and responsible gaming, areas they called critical as the bingo sector faces a shifting commercial and regulatory climate.

Baron has been CEO of the Bingo Association and connected organisations since October 2012. The Bingo Association is the trade body representing licensed bingo operators across Great Britain, advocating for their interests with government, regulators and industry partners.   

Baron to Exit After More Than a Decade at the Helm

Under Baron’s leadership, the association has sustained its role as the sector’s voice during a period of regulatory debate and structural shifts within the UK gambling landscape.

The National Bingo Game Association, established in 1986, runs the UK’s National Bingo Game, a linked club game played in licensed bingo halls across the country, working closely with Meeron, which provides linked game services and operational technology to bingo operators.  

Industry figures say the bingo sector remains an important part of the British leisure market, providing social and community spaces in towns and cities nationwide, despite challenges from online gaming and wider regulatory pressures.

Garrett’s appointment underscores a growing emphasis on responsible gaming and external engagement at a time when the UK gambling industry is under increasing scrutiny around regulation and consumer protections.