Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA), the body that represents bookmakers such as Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, and PointsBet, has appointed Kai Cantwell as its chief executive. Cantwell will start his new job on April 17. RWA members bring over $2 billion in tax money and create more than 32,000 jobs.
Before he was appointed as RWA chief executive, Cantwell spent over a decade working a wide range of government roles. Most notably, he was a senior executive in charge of the implementation of the national framework for consumer protection.
Cantwell will now have to represent the Australian betting industry and ensure that corporate bookmakers’ voices are heard if and when new gambling regulation is drawn up.
RWA chairman and former senator Nick Minchin said that Cantwell was the best man for the job, as he had a “deep understanding of social policy, sports, wagering, and government.” That positioned him as the ideal candidate to take RWA forward, promote responsible wagering, and call for the implementation of “the highest standards in the sector.”
Review Recommends Significant Investment in Responsible Wagering Research
Cantwell replaces Justin Madden, who left the post in November, claiming he would “pursue other business interests.” Madden was at the helm of RWA for only one year.
After Madden resigned, RWA chairman Minchin asked for an independent review of RWA’s structure, with JR Consult being in charge of the review. The advisory business is owned by Julie Ryan, who used to be a chief legal officer at Sportsbet.
Even though the results of the review have not been revealed, reports say that JR Consult recommended that the industry invests significant amounts of money into the development of responsible wagering research.
