UKGC Releases Comms with Reform Campaigners
FOI request reveals correspondence between the regulator and Clean Up Gambling on legal judgments and political events.
A Freedom of Information request has revealed correspondence between the UK Gambling Commission and reform advocates Clean Up Gambling. The released documents show dialogue concerning a High Court judgment and political engagement, offering a rare look into the interactions shaping UK gambling regulation.
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A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has brought to light recent communications between the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and prominent gambling reform advocates.
The disclosure, published in response to a request dated 23 June 2025, contains five partially redacted documents detailing correspondence between the regulator and the campaign group Clean Up Gambling (CUG).
What the FOI Request Asked For
The original request sought all information, including emails and meeting records, held by the Commission concerning "the campaign for fairer gambling" for the period between 1 June 2024 and 23 June 2025. While the request specified The Campaign for Fairer Gambling, the documents released by the UKGC refer to correspondence with Clean Up Gambling, a closely associated reform group.
What the Released Documents Reveal
The UKGC provided a "partial exemption" to the request, releasing five PDF documents with personal information such as names and email addresses redacted to comply with data protection laws. This is a standard procedure for FOI responses involving individuals' data.
The titles of the released files indicate the nature of the dialogue:
- Legal Scrutiny: A significant portion of the correspondence relates to a High Court judgment. Documents include a letter from CUG to the UKGC and a subsequent response from the Commission's CEO, Andrew Rhodes, dated 23 April 2025.
- Political Engagement: One email chain, titled "RE Fringe event Redacted," suggests communication regarding events held alongside major political party conferences, a common venue for lobbying and policy discussion.
- Direct Dialogue: Other files simply titled "Correspondence from Andrew Rhodes" and "RE Letter from Clean Up Gambling to Andrew Rhodes" confirm an ongoing channel of communication between the head of the regulator and the campaign organisation.
Why This Matters for Consumers
This disclosure provides consumers and industry observers with a rare, albeit partial, view into the relationship between the UK's gambling regulator and the campaign groups that scrutinise its work. It demonstrates that organisations like Clean Up Gambling are actively engaging the UKGC on significant legal and political issues that directly influence the regulatory landscape.
The correspondence concerning a High Court judgment shows that campaign groups are holding the regulator accountable for its legal interpretations and enforcement actions. For consumers, this advocacy is a key driver of potential changes to gambling laws and the implementation of stronger consumer protection measures.
The release underscores the level of engagement required to influence gambling policy in the UK. While the content of the discussions is heavily redacted, the existence and topics of these communications highlight the ongoing debate between reformers and the regulator over the future direction of the industry.