UKGC Fails to Name Unharmed Gambler Panels
FOI response points to public documents instead of providing specific details on consumer engagement.
A Freedom of Information request asking the UKGC to identify its advisory panels for unharmed gamblers was met with links to general information, not the specific data requested. The response raises questions about the balance of consumer input in the Commission's regulatory process.
Article Content
UKGC Response Lacks Specifics on Engagement with Non-Problem Gamblers
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request asking the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) to provide details on its engagement with consumers who gamble without harm has revealed a lack of specific, disclosable information. Despite marking the outcome as a "Full disclosure," the regulator did not provide the names of panel members or survey results as requested, instead directing the applicant to existing public web pages.
Context: The Search for Balanced Advice
The request, dated 16 October 2023, was submitted in the interest of "equality and balance" in the Commission's evidence-gathering process. The applicant highlighted a statement on the UKGC website which claims it engages with consumers who gamble without suffering harm through "a variety of surveys, panels, stakeholder engagement activities, and research" to ensure a balanced perspective alongside its Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), which is composed of individuals who have experienced gambling harms.
The FOI specifically asked the Commission to disclose the members of such panels and the results of related surveys and research, noting the importance of including professional gamblers who use high stakes but do not necessarily suffer from harm.
Details of the Disclosure
In its response, the UKGC did not provide a list of members for any panels representing unharmed gamblers, nor did it supply specific survey results. Instead, the Commission's response pointed the requester towards general information, including:
- Three Expert Advisory Groups: The UKGC highlighted its formal advisory groups, which cover academia, technology, and lived experience of harm (LEAP). It provided a link to its 'Who we are' page, which lists the members of these specific bodies.
- Archived National Strategy: The response referenced the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, which ran from 2019 to 2022, and provided links to archived material and progress reports from the former Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG).
The information provided does not directly answer the request for details on panels or research specifically involving consumers who gamble safely. The formal advisory groups listed are focused on expert advice and lived experience of harm, not the perspective of the average or professional gambler.
Significance: Questions Over 'Balanced' Engagement
For consumers, this disclosure raises questions about the structure and transparency of the UKGC's engagement with the majority of people who gamble. The Commission states it seeks balance, but its inability to provide specific information on panels or research for unharmed gamblers in response to a direct FOI request suggests this engagement may be less formalised or readily available than its work with harm-focused groups.
While the UKGC may engage with a broader base of consumers through general surveys and other activities, the lack of a dedicated, transparent advisory body representing this group remains a point of concern for those seeking to understand how regulatory decisions are balanced. The response indicates that there is no formal panel of professional or recreational gamblers with publicly listed members equivalent to the Lived Experience Advisory Panel.