UKGC Survey Contract Attracts Single Bid
FOI reveals National Centre for Social Research was the sole bidder for the pivotal Gambling Survey for Great Britain.
A Freedom of Information disclosure shows that the UK Gambling Commission received only one tender for its flagship 2025 gambling survey. The contract, crucial for shaping consumer protection policy, was awarded to the sole bidder, the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen).
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A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed that the UK Gambling Commission received only one bid for the contract to conduct its flagship Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) in 2025. The sole tender came from the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), which was subsequently awarded the contract.
Why This Data Matters
The Gambling Survey for Great Britain is the primary source of official statistics on gambling participation, behaviours, and rates of harm across the nation. The data collected is fundamental to the Gambling Commission's work, informing its regulatory policies, compliance activities, and overall strategy for making gambling safer.
For consumers, the integrity and robustness of this survey are paramount. Its findings directly influence the rules and protections that operators must follow, impacting everything from affordability checks to marketing restrictions. A competitive tendering process is typically seen as a way to ensure value for money and encourage a diversity of methodological approaches.
Details of the Disclosure
The information was released following an FOI request submitted on 22 January 2026. The request asked for the names of all parties that responded to the invitation to tender for the 2025 GSGB contract.
In its response, the Gambling Commission stated: "The Gambling Commission can confirm that one response for the invitation to tender for the contract to conduct the Gambling Survey for Great Britain in 2025 was received. The response to the invitation to tender was from NatCen."
The regulator had previously announced that the contract was awarded to NatCen on 1 October 2025. NatCen is a highly respected independent social research institute and has extensive experience in conducting large-scale national surveys.
Significance for Regulation
While the contract was awarded to a reputable organisation, the fact that only one party tendered for such a significant project is a notable finding. The GSGB is a cornerstone of the UK's evidence-led approach to gambling regulation, as outlined in the government's gambling white paper.
The lack of competition for the contract could raise questions about the procurement process, such as whether the contract specifications were too narrow or if the market for this specialised research is limited. For a data set that underpins major policy decisions affecting millions of consumers, transparency and competition in its procurement are key to maintaining public confidence in the regulatory framework.