MERKUR Casino UK Appoints Former Gambling Commission Executive Dan Whitlam as Head of Compliance

MERKUR Casino UK has appointed Dan Whitlam, a former Gambling Commission executive with prior roles at GamCare, as Head of Compliance. The appointment is effective 28 September 2026, and Whitlam will report to Chief Financial Officer Egemen Coskun.

Whitlam will deliver strategic leadership and independent oversight on regulatory compliance, safer gambling, player protection, anti-money laundering, financial crime prevention, data protection and governance. His responsibilities include directing the company’s engagement with the Gambling Commission, local authorities and industry bodies across its High Street Gaming Centres, bingo and casino operations.

The appointment supports succession planning ahead of Amanda Kiernan’s retirement in April 2027. Chief Operating Officer Mark Schertle said: “This is part of the company’s succession planning ahead of Amanda Kiernan’s retirement in April 2027. The timing provides for a structured handover and continuity within this important function.”

Schertle continued: “Dan brings extensive compliance experience gained from working with several major organisations within the gaming industry, as well as the Gambling Commission.”

Coskun added: “Dan brings strong knowledge of gaming regulation, regulatory risk, safer gambling and player protection, together with experience of working with regulators and other key stakeholders. His background will help MERKUR Casino UK continue to develop its compliance strategy and respond effectively to the changing regulatory environment.”

He stated that the appointment “demonstrates our continued commitment to strong compliance leadership and independent oversight and also reflects the importance we place on maintaining high standards, protecting vulnerable customers and ensuring that regulatory requirements are embedded consistently across all areas of the business.”

Whitlam said: “MERKUR is already a strong and ambitious business with an excellent compliance culture, so I’m really looking forward to working with colleagues across the organisation, building on what is already in place and helping to push standards even higher.”

He added that he wants to combine insight from the Gambling Commission and GamCare with prior operational and player protection experience “to help MERKUR continue to develop a compliance framework that is robust, proportionate and practical.”

Whitlam concluded: “For me, the best compliance functions are not there simply to say no or to police the rest of the business. They should understand the operation, identify risk early, help the business find solutions and ultimately enable it to grow sustainably while maintaining high standards of player protection.”

Regulatory Experience in UK Land-Based Operations

The hire places direct regulator insight inside a business that runs physical gaming, bingo and casino venues. Whitlam’s remit explicitly covers liaison with the Gambling Commission and local licensing authorities, aligning oversight with day-to-day operations rather than treating compliance as an external constraint.

Continuity Ahead of Leadership Change

The structured handover before Kiernan’s April 2027 exit gives MERKUR Casino UK time to transfer knowledge across regulatory risk, safer gambling and stakeholder relations. As UK rules continue to evolve, operators with mixed retail and gaming portfolios may treat such appointments as baseline protection for licence continuity and customer safeguards.

Reporting: iGaming Future

Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.