Head of Legal and Compliance (UK)

Dabble is a global online gaming business with a heartbeat, cornerstoned by our community. Since our inception in 2020, we’ve been on a scale-up journey, driven by our core philosophy, “You Better Believe It.” We are where innovation meets excitement, blending immersive, community-driven experiences that are always a step ahead. Our platform is about connecting, celebrating, and having fun. Whether it’s in-app or in the workplace, we are committed to delivering the extraordinary guided by our philosophy and values. Dabble currently operates in two markets (Australia and the US), is licensed in the UK, and is set to launch the app very soon.

Dabble Culture

• Dress for your day so you can focus on what matters
• Switch up your office, work from home, work from wherever helps you to deliver
• Genuine, like-minded team of visionaries. We welcome ideas big and small!
• Scheduled focus time to encourage deep thought
• Our annual convention, Dabblecon, brings us all together to celebrate our successes and plan continued evolution over the coming year
• Each day is led through upholding our core Values: Fun, Celebratory, Community, Evolutionary, and Focus

Dabble Perks

• A minimum of 5 weeks of paid annual leave for all Dabblers, plus public holidays!
• 2 weeks of paid sick leave for all Dabblers
• Up to 10% annual cash bonus based on company performance metrics
• A £200 annual home office allowance
• Your wellness is our genuine concern: We sponsor access to the Sonder app for employees and their families with 24/7 support across mental health, medical advice, safety support, and more
• Dabble Day Dividend: all Dabblers split the day’s revenue evenly on our birthday each year.

Overview

The Head of Legal and Compliance will lead Dabble UK’s legal and compliance function, ensuring adherence to the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP), Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations, UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), and other relevant UK laws. This strategic role will drive the development, implementation, and monitoring of compliance programs, provide expert legal counsel on UK-specific matters, and promote a culture of compliance. The role will support internal teams, liaise with external regulators (e.g., UKGC, ICO, NCA), and industry bodies (e.g., Betting and Gaming Council) to mitigate risks and ensure operational integrity. The ideal candidate will have deep knowledge of UK government policy, legislative processes, and current compliance requirements in the sports gambling/online wagering industry.

Primary Location

This role is currently open to candidates based in Leeds and surrounds, though other locations in the United Kingdom may be considered.

Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance

• Develop and implement compliance programs to meet UKGC LCCP requirements, including social responsibility, AML, and fair gaming standards.
• Monitor regulatory changes and maintain robust policies, controls, and procedures to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Oversee the second-line UK compliance framework, including self-exclusion (GAMSTOP), AML/CTF measures, affordability checks, and safer gambling tools.
• Ensure timely submission of regulatory reports and notifications of key events (e.g., personnel changes).
• Implement AML policies, including customer due diligence (CDD), know-your-customer (KYC), and suspicious activity reporting, in line with the UK’s Money Laundering Regulations and Proceeds of Crime Act.
• Provide expert legal advice on UK-specific matters, including contracts, corporate governance, data protection, and consumer protection.
• Review and negotiate commercial agreements to align with UK legal and regulatory standards.
• Manage litigation, disputes, and advise on regulatory investigations into potential incidents.
• Lead UK GDPR compliance, developing data protection policies, conducting data protection impact assessments (DPIAs), and managing data breach responses.
• Ensure advertising compliance with UKGC, Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), and Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) guidelines, avoiding content appealing to under-18s (e.g., playful imagery like emojis or rockets).
• Provide leadership with regular updates on regulatory changes, risks, and their impact on Dabble UK’s operations.
• Prepare briefings and position papers on emerging legislative trends to guide strategic responses.

Other Areas of Focus

• Regulatory Liaison
• Risk Management
• Training and Awareness
• Safer Gambling
• Data Protection
• Strategic Communication & Issue Management

Skills & Qualifications

• Proven expertise in UKGC regulations, AML compliance, and UK GDPR.
• Experience in gambling, financial services, or highly regulated industries preferred.
• Track record of engaging with UK regulators and managing complex compliance programs.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret complex regulations and provide actionable guidance.
• High ethical standards and commitment to fostering a compliance culture.
• Excellent stakeholder management, including regulator interactions.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil regulatory information into clear, actionable insights.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects.
• Relevant qualifications in compliance, law, or risk management.
• 10+ years of experience in legal and regulatory compliance, with 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, business, political science, law, media communications, or a related field, or qualified solicitor/barrister with a valid practicing certificate in England and Wales (preferred).

Are you a Dabbler?

A Dabbler’s attitude is paramount, as the right person will be able to learn quickly and adapt to any skill gaps. A Dabbler is always a team player, with a willingness to share with and learn from others. Being a remote-first workplace, collaborative working styles are crucial to empower and grow each individual member (e.g., we prefer openness via public channels to problem solve or ideate on Slack). A Dabbler uses their freedom of autonomy to its absolute potential and enjoys contributing to the Dabble community. We hold respect for our peers very highly – there is no such thing as a bad idea. We encourage you to think differently, be brave and strive to always raise the bar. Dabble was born out of thought sharing and should tackle growth in the same way. Dabble embraces empowerment of all people at any level of seniority and experience to ‘own their work’ and ‘talk their book’ wherever they can. A fulfilling life extends beyond work, and we encourage our employees to prioritise self-care and well-being. This means taking breaks when needed, setting boundaries, and seeking support when facing challenges. We are committed to creating a safe environment where individuals feel comfortable discussing their wellbeing and accessing resources when necessary.

Remuneration

The advertised salary for this position is £100,000 - £110,000 + Benefits with room to be flexible.