UKGC Lacks Records on Key Digital Safety Advice

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A Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure has revealed that the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) did not act on key recommendations made by its own Digital Advisory Panel (DAP) in 2019, which were designed to address the growing risks of online gambling.

The response, published following a request dated 1 September 2025, shows that specific advice regarding the digital expertise of commissioners and the monitoring of operator advertising was not implemented. This raises questions about the regulator's pace in adapting to the challenges of the digital age.

Context: Expert Advice for a Digital Era

In September 2019, the UKGC's Digital Advisory Panel—a body established to advise on new risks from online platforms—published a significant report. It highlighted that with online gambling representing more than half of the market, the regulator needed to evolve.

The panel made two critical recommendations to better protect consumers:

1. Enhance Commissioner Skills: Appoint commissioners with a strong "digital awareness and background" to match the industry's technological shift.
2. Monitor Ad Targeting: Require gambling operators to report on their progress in targeting online advertising away from children, problem gamblers, and at-risk individuals.

This advice was intended to ensure the regulator had the right expertise at the leadership level and that operators were held accountable for their powerful digital marketing tools.

Details: What the FOI Revealed

The FOI request asked for records showing what measures the UKGC had taken to implement this advice. The Commission's response revealed a lack of action on these specific points.

On Commissioner Skills: The UKGC stated it holds "no information" regarding the assessment of new commissioners' digital credentials in response to the DAP's recommendation. It clarified that commissioners are appointed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and not the UKGC itself. While the Commission conducts its own internal skills assessments, it provided no records showing the DAP's specific advice was a factor in recruitment.

On Advertising Reporting: Regarding the recommendation for operators to report on ad targeting, the UKGC's response was definitive: "The records you request do not exist." It added that this particular recommendation "did not become policy." Instead, the Commission pointed to its broader work on the 2023 Gambling Act Review White Paper.

On Meeting Records: The request also asked for minutes of DAP meetings where the implementation of the 2019 advice was discussed. The UKGC responded that minutes for meetings prior to 2020 "are not held by the Gambling Commission as no formal minutes were recorded at that time." This means there is no formal public record of how the panel's advice was initially received or discussed internally.

Significance: A Gap in Digital Oversight

This disclosure highlights a significant gap between expert advice and regulatory action. For several years after the DAP identified critical weaknesses in digital oversight, its specific, actionable recommendations were not put into practice.

For consumers, this is important. The panel's advice was aimed directly at reducing gambling harm by ensuring the regulator was digitally competent and that operators could not indiscriminately target vulnerable people with advertising. The FOI response shows that these safeguards were not implemented as recommended.

While the UKGC has since contributed to wider government reforms, this data reveals a multi-year period where the regulator did not act on its own expert panel's advice to address the specific dangers of the online gambling environment.