At the same time, Alex Davies-Jones has been assigned the role of Shadow Gambling Minister, where she replaces Alex Sobel.
Michael Dugher, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has welcomed both of them.
Dugher said: “On behalf of our members, who between them support 119,000 jobs, generate £4.5bn ($5.9bn) in tax and contribute £7.7bn to the economy in gross value added, I’d like to congratulate Lucy and Alex on their appointments. I know how incredibly talented both of them are and they are taking on big jobs at a really important time, as we await the publication of the gambling white paper.
“I would like to thank Jo Stevens and Alex Sobel for all their positive engagement with BGC members in the past, in particular for the support they gave the land-based sector that faced such difficult challenges being closed down during the Covid lockdowns.”
Dugher also said problem gambling rates have fallen from 0.6% to 0.3% in the past year.
He added the importance of the role played by the members of BGC in supporting modern betting shops, as well as the hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors.
He concluded by recalling the support to the economy and the public finances the gaming industry offered during the Covid-19 pandemic and continues to offer to the British people.
The BGC's recent AGM was cancelled but has been rescheduled for January.
