FOI Reveals UKGC Interest in Irish Gambling Reforms
Regulator internally discussed Irish research on ad and inducement bans, a new disclosure confirms.
A Freedom of Information disclosure shows the UK Gambling Commission is monitoring gambling reforms in Ireland. An internal document references key Irish research in the context of public health measures like advertising and inducement bans.
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A Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure has revealed that the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is monitoring gambling policy developments in Ireland, including key research on public health measures.
The response, published on the UKGC website, shows the regulator holds internal documents discussing Irish gambling reform. This comes as the UK implements its own wide-ranging reforms following the government's White Paper.
The FOI Request and Appeal
The original request, dated 29 July 2025, asked for all UKGC correspondence and analysis relating to two major reports on gambling in Ireland published by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in 2023 and 2024.
After an initial response, the requester filed for an internal review on 10 September 2025, arguing that information was missing. They noted that the UKGC had referenced the ESRI research in one of its own reports, making it "not plausible" that the Commission had not conducted an internal assessment of the research's quality.
The requester also suggested that correspondence might exist between the UKGC and the new Gambling Regulation Authority of Ireland.
What the Disclosure Revealed
The UKGC's internal review conducted a new search using the terms "ESRI" and "Gambling Regulation Authority of Ireland." This uncovered one additional piece of information not provided in the initial response.
The Commission disclosed a short extract from an internal document titled “Gambling Reform in Ireland – Panel Doc”:
“3. Public Health Measures – ban on inducements, advertising restrictions, establishment of exclusion register and a social fund - The commentary around these issues has been varied and attendees may have noticed a certain ramping up in the last view months – two indicative examples – ESRI research commissioned by the Implementation Team Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland of the and REDACTED.”
While heavily redacted, this extract confirms several key points:
- Internal Monitoring: The UKGC has created internal briefing documents specifically on gambling reform in Ireland.
- Focus on Public Health: The Commission is paying attention to public health measures being discussed in Ireland, including bans on gambling inducements (like free bets), advertising restrictions, and the creation of a national self-exclusion register.
- Awareness of Research: The UKGC is aware of the ESRI research and views it as an "indicative example" in the context of these reforms.
The UKGC upheld its decision to redact personal information, such as the names of staff members, under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act.
Why This Matters for UK Consumers
This disclosure provides a rare glimpse into the UKGC's internal priorities and how it informs its own policy-making. The public health measures being discussed in Ireland—particularly around advertising and inducements—are also central to the ongoing gambling reforms in Great Britain.
That the UK's regulator is formally monitoring and documenting developments in a neighbouring country suggests it is looking for international evidence and examples to inform its own approach. For consumers, this indicates that the rules designed to protect them in the UK may be influenced by regulatory and research outcomes from other jurisdictions facing similar challenges.