UKGC: No Gambling Talks With MP Mark Tami
An FOI request reveals a lack of direct correspondence between the Labour MP and the gambling regulator over a recent three-month period.
A Freedom of Information disclosure from the UK Gambling Commission reveals that it held no meetings with, nor received any emails from, MP Mark Tami regarding gambling during a recent three-month period.
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No Records of Correspondence Found
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed that the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) holds no record of any meetings or email correspondence with Mark Tami MP concerning gambling-related matters over a specified three-month period.
The request, dated 1 July 2025, sought to uncover any communication between the Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside and the regulator between April and July 2025. The response from the UKGC was definitive, stating that after a thorough search, "no information is held falling within the scope of your request."
Context: Why This Matters for Consumers
Mark Tami has previously shown an interest in gambling policy, having submitted parliamentary questions on topics such as gambling advertising and the regulation of the National Lottery. The engagement between Members of Parliament and regulatory bodies like the UKGC is a critical component of democratic oversight.
Such communication ensures that consumer protection concerns are relayed to the regulator and that legislative policy is informed by the UKGC's frontline experience. A lack of direct dialogue, even over a short period, can be noteworthy, as it provides a snapshot of the channels being used by lawmakers to influence and scrutinise the gambling industry.
Breakdown of the FOI Request
The information request was specific in its scope. It asked the Commission to search its records for:
- Emails sent from Mark Tami MP containing the terms "betting", "gambling", "gaming", or "casino".
- Records of any meetings held with the MP where these topics were discussed.
- The contents of any such emails or minutes from any meetings.
The timeframe for the search was stipulated as the three months from April to July 2025.
The UKGC’s response, that no information was held, is a standard outcome when a search of records yields no results. It does not mean information was withheld or redacted, but simply that no documents matching the request's criteria exist.
Significance for Regulatory Transparency
While the disclosure confirms a lack of direct communication during this window, it does not preclude the MP from engaging on the issue through other avenues. These can include parliamentary debates, submitting written questions to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), or participating in All-Party Parliamentary Groups.
For consumers, this disclosure provides a small but valuable piece of data on the workings of the UK's regulatory environment. It underscores the role of the Freedom of Information Act as a tool for public scrutiny, allowing any citizen to query the interactions between lawmakers and the organisations responsible for upholding industry standards.
The finding serves as a factual baseline, confirming that for the period in question, no direct approaches were made by this particular MP to the regulator on key gambling topics.