Background
Dr. Sarah Chen leads research and data analysis at Saferwager. She holds a PhD in Public Policy from the London School of Economics, where her thesis examined regulatory effectiveness in UK gambling markets. She spent 3 years as a Research Fellow at the Responsible Gambling Trust (now GambleAware), analysing operator self-exclusion data and player protection outcomes, before moving into regulatory technology consulting for 5 years.
Sarah has published peer-reviewed research in the Journal of Gambling Studies and Addiction Research & Theory. She is a member of the Royal Statistical Society. At Saferwager, she oversees FOI data analysis, the trust scoring methodology, and statistical interpretation of regulatory trends.
Credentials
PhD in Public Policy, London School of Economics. Member of the Royal Statistical Society. Published in the Journal of Gambling Studies and Addiction Research & Theory.
Areas of Focus
- FOI data analysis
- Trust scoring methodology
- Statistical interpretation
- Harm prevention research
Articles by Dr. Sarah Chen
UKGC: Curaçao Licence Invalid for UK Market
A Freedom of Information disclosure from the UK Gambling Commission has confirmed that an online gambling licence from Curaçao is not valid for offering services in Great Britain. The regulator's ...
UKGC: No Specific Guidance on Foreign Betting Sponsors
A Freedom of Information request reveals the UK Gambling Commission has not issued specific guidance for sports clubs on vetting non-UK-licensed sponsors. The regulator pointed to existing general ...
UKGC Survey Contract Attracts Single Bid
A Freedom of Information disclosure shows that the UK Gambling Commission received only one tender for its flagship 2025 gambling survey. The contract, crucial for shaping consumer protection polic...
UKGC Lacks Operator-Specific eCOGRA Dispute Data
A Freedom of Information response has revealed the UK Gambling Commission does not hold operator-specific data on customer dispute outcomes from ADR provider eCOGRA. This lack of centralised data m...
UKGC Withholds Game Audit Data
The UK Gambling Commission has refused a Freedom of Information request for audit and testing data on a specific online casino game. The regulator cited law enforcement exemptions, arguing that rel...
UKGC Can't Quantify Social Media Gambling Reports
A Freedom of Information request has revealed the UK Gambling Commission cannot quantify the number of complaints about illegal social media gambling prior to late 2024. The regulator stated that r...
FOI: No UKGC Staff Declarations for Metropolitan Casinos
A Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure reveals the UK Gambling Commission holds no records of its staff declaring gifts, hospitality, or conflicts of interest involving Metropolitan casinos. The...
UKGC Silent on Bally's New Owner Suitability Check
The UK Gambling Commission has refused to confirm or deny whether it has conducted a suitability review of Intralot, a new part-owner of Bally's Interactive. The regulator cited a law enforcement e...
UKGC: Gambling Suicide Data 'Too Costly' to Find
The UK Gambling Commission has stated it cannot provide data on how many bereaved families have contacted it about gambling-related suicides. A Freedom of Information request was refused because th...
Paddy Power Betfair Pays £2M for Player Protection Breaches
Paddy Power Betfair has agreed to a £2 million regulatory settlement after a UK Gambling Commission investigation uncovered significant social responsibility failings. The operator failed to adequ...
UKGC Withholds Lottery Financials
The UK Gambling Commission has refused to release detailed financial data for individual large society lotteries, citing commercial sensitivity. The decision means consumers cannot compare how much...
UKGC Holds No Data on Allwyn Lottery UI Change
The UK Gambling Commission has confirmed it does not hold the research justifying a change by National Lottery operator Allwyn that automatically selects multiple draws for players. The disclosure ...
UKGC Withholds Spending Data, Cites Future Publication
The UK Gambling Commission has declined an immediate release of its spending data for July-September 2025. The regulator cited a Freedom of Information exemption for data intended for future public...
UKGC Staff Site Access Data Revealed
A Freedom of Information request has revealed data on attempts by UK Gambling Commission staff devices to access blocked websites. While the regulator provided a log of blocked access attempts, it ...
UKGC Lacks Data on B1 Gaming Machine Suppliers
A Freedom of Information request has revealed a significant gap in the UK Gambling Commission's data. The regulator confirmed it does not hold information on the number of B1 gaming machines broken...
UKGC Withholds Footstock Licensing Data
The UK Gambling Commission has refused to release licensing documents for the failed operator Footstock, despite confirming it holds the information. The regulator cited 'law enforcement' exemption...
UKGC Confirms It Is Not Funded by Taxpayers
A Freedom of Information request has clarified that the UK Gambling Commission's operations are funded by fees from the gambling industry, not by the UK taxpayer. The regulator's response highlight...
UKGC Reveals £97k Annual Spend on Network Services
A Freedom of Information request reveals the UK Gambling Commission spends £97,369 annually on network services for its two offices. The data shows costs are split between providers Claranet and G...
UKGC Shields Probe into Offshore Allegations
The UK Gambling Commission has invoked a law enforcement exemption to avoid confirming or denying an investigation into a bookmaker accused of running an illegal offshore operation. This response h...
UKGC Redacts Details of LSE Gambling Research
A Freedom of Information request has revealed a research partnership between the UK Gambling Commission and the London School of Economics. While the collaboration focuses on key industry data, the...
Enforcement Coverage
| Date | Operator | Action Type | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 2025 | PPB Entertainment Limited | Regulatory Settlement | £2m |
| 9 Dec 2025 | Chilton Community Sports And Social Club Limited | Financial Penalty | £520 |
| 18 Nov 2025 | 888 UK Limited | Financial Penalty | £86,843 |
| 5 Nov 2025 | Netbet Enterprises Limited | Regulatory Settlement | £650,000 |
| 27 Oct 2025 | Webmedia Development N.V. | Financial Penalty | £470 |
| 16 Sep 2025 | Hughes, Alexander Daniel Laurence | License Revocation | - |
| 20 Aug 2025 | Kalinowski Lukasz | License Revocation | - |
| 7 Aug 2025 | WHG (International) Limited | Financial Penalty | £82,687 |
| 4 Aug 2025 | A Cash Limited | Financial Penalty | £350 |
| 26 Jun 2025 | Grace Media (Gibraltar) Limited | Financial Penalty | £60,000 |