UKGC Reveals Pre-2018 Online Gambling Data Sources
FOI response directs public to historical surveys tracking online gambling participation by age group from 2015 to 2018.
The UK Gambling Commission has clarified where the public can find historical data on online gambling participation. In response to a Freedom of Information request, the regulator pointed to several public surveys from 2015-2018, providing a crucial baseline for tracking industry trends.
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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has clarified the public availability of historical data on online gambling participation, following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request filed on 27 January 2023.
In response to a request for statistical data on online gambling by age group for the years 2015-2018, the regulator pointed to existing public resources, providing a valuable roadmap for consumers and researchers seeking to understand long-term industry trends.
Why This Data Matters
Understanding gambling participation rates before 2018 is crucial for establishing a baseline. This period predates significant regulatory shifts, including the 2019 reduction in Fixed-Odds Betting Terminal (FOBT) stakes, and the global pandemic, both of which profoundly impacted gambling behaviours. Access to this historical data allows for a more accurate assessment of how the market has evolved and the effect of subsequent regulatory interventions.
For consumers, this information provides context to the growth of online gambling and can help illustrate trends within specific age demographics over time.
How the UKGC Responded
While the official outcome of the FOI request was 'Information withheld', this was not a refusal to provide the data. Instead, the UKGC invoked Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act, which exempts information that is already reasonably accessible to the public elsewhere.
The Commission directed the requester to two primary sources where this historical data can be found:
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Quarterly Telephone Surveys: The UKGC confirmed that its telephone survey data, which is published regularly, contains a rolling five years' worth of statistics. The reports for 2019, 2020, and 2021 all contain downloadable data files that cover the requested 2015-2018 period for Great Britain.
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Health Surveys: The regulator also highlighted its dedicated gambling behaviour reports, which are based on national health surveys. It provided links to the following reports containing online gambling metrics:
- Gambling behaviour in Great Britain 2015
- Gambling behaviour in Great Britain 2016
- 2018 Health Survey for England (data tables)
The UKGC noted two important caveats for this data set: there was no equivalent gambling report published in 2017, and the 2018 data is for England only, whereas the other reports cover Great Britain.
Significance for the Industry
The UKGC's response consolidates the location of key historical benchmarks for the gambling industry. By pointing to these specific surveys, the regulator confirms the official sources for tracking participation rates in the critical years leading up to major changes in the UK market. This data is essential for policymakers, public health bodies, and industry analysts to measure the long-term impact of regulation and changing consumer habits on the online gambling landscape.