UKGC: No Data on Gambling-Linked Deaths for 2023/24
FOI response reveals a historical data gap but highlights a new, mandatory reporting rule for operators concerning customer suicides.
A Freedom of Information request has confirmed the UK Gambling Commission does not hold data on deaths linked to gambling for 2023/24. However, the regulator highlighted a new rule effective 1 April 2024, which now requires operators to report customer suicides to the Commission.
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UKGC Lacks Centralised Data on Gambling-Related Deaths
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed that the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) does not hold specific data on the number of deaths where gambling was cited as a cause during the 2023/2024 period. The response, dated 30 July 2024, clarifies the regulator's role and highlights a significant change in how it will track the most severe cases of gambling harm moving forward.
Why This Data Matters
For consumers, understanding the true extent of gambling-related harm is crucial for making informed decisions and for holding the industry and its regulator to account. While the link between problem gambling and suicide has been established in previous research, the lack of a centralised, official figure from the regulator has been a point of concern for campaigners. This FOI response sheds light on why that data gap exists and what is being done to address it.
Breakdown of the FOI Response
The request posed several questions to the regulator, revealing key aspects of its operations:
Gambling-Related Deaths
The Commission confirmed it does not hold information on the number of deaths where gambling was a confirmed cause for 2023/24. It explained that determining a cause of death is the legal responsibility of a coroner, not the UKGC.
However, the response detailed a major policy change. As of 1 April 2024, a new rule in the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) came into effect. This rule mandates that gambling operators must inform the Commission whenever they become aware of a customer's death by suicide, particularly if there was prior contact from the customer indicating a risk.
Regulatory Oversight and Fines
The FOI also sought to clarify how the UKGC monitors operators. The Commission stated its process is not limited to self-reporting by companies. It actively investigates when concerns are raised and conducts ongoing compliance assessments to ensure operators adhere to the Gambling Act 2005 and the LCCP. The UKGC affirmed its power to take regulatory action against firms that fail to meet these standards.
When asked for a list of fines issued in 2023/24, the UKGC directed the requester to its publicly available enforcement activity statements and list of regulatory sanctions, rather than compiling a new list for the FOI.
Clarification on 'Self-Regulation'
The requester asked who decided on 'self-regulation' for the industry. The UKGC corrected this premise, stating that the UK gambling industry is not self-regulated. The Commission is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, and it operates under powers granted by the Gambling Act 2005. All operators must be licensed by the UKGC and are subject to its legally binding conditions.
Significance for the Industry
The most significant revelation is the new mandatory reporting requirement for operators regarding customer suicides. This marks a critical shift from a reactive to a more proactive stance on tracking the most extreme harms. While the UKGC did not hold this specific data for 2023/24, this new rule means that such data will begin to be collected from April 2024 onwards.
This will provide the regulator with direct, operator-sourced information, enabling it to investigate the conduct of the gambling firms involved and build a clearer picture of severe gambling harm in Great Britain. For consumers, it represents a tangible step towards greater accountability and a data-led approach to player protection.