UKGC Late Payments Drop by 90%, FOI Reveals
Data shows a significant improvement in the regulator's payment practices to suppliers over the last six financial years.
A Freedom of Information request has revealed the UK Gambling Commission dramatically improved its supplier payment times, with late invoices falling by 90% since 2017. The data shows a drop from dozens of late payments annually to just one per year recently.
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Regulator's Payment Performance Improves Significantly
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed that the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has drastically improved its performance in paying supplier invoices on time, with the number of late payments falling by 90% between 2017 and 2023.
The data, released following a request dated 4 September 2023, details all invoices that were not paid within the standard 30-day period over the last six financial years. The findings point to a marked improvement in the regulator's administrative efficiency.
Why This Matters
As a public body funded by fees from the gambling operators it regulates, the UKGC's financial conduct is subject to public scrutiny. Under The Public Contracts Regulations 2015, it is obligated to pay its suppliers promptly. This data provides a transparent look at how well the Commission has met this obligation. For consumers, it offers insight into the operational competence of the organisation tasked with ensuring a fair and safe gambling market.
A Breakdown of the Data
The FOI disclosure shows a clear trend of improvement over the six-year period from 2017/18 to 2022/23. In total, 34 invoices worth a combined £50,943 were paid late.
However, the figures are heavily skewed towards the earlier years:
- 2017-2020: In the first three financial years (2017/18 to 2019/20), the UKGC paid 31 invoices late, with a total value of £47,343. The number of late payments per year was consistent, with 11 in 2017/18 and 10 in each of the following two years.
- 2020-2023: In the most recent three financial years (2020/21 to 2022/23), this number plummeted. The Commission recorded only one late invoice per year, for a total of three late payments valued at £3,600 combined.
The severity of the delays also decreased significantly. While some invoices in the earlier period were paid over 30 days late, the single late payment in each of the last three years was delayed by only one day.
Significance for the Industry
The dramatic reduction in late payments suggests the UKGC has successfully addressed internal process issues to improve its payment performance. This demonstrates a commitment to good governance and meeting its public sector responsibilities.
While the request asked for specific supplier details, the UKGC redacted personal information such as contact details, citing its obligations under the Data Protection Act 2018. This is a standard and lawful exemption to protect the privacy of individuals associated with supplier companies. The data shows payments were made to a range of suppliers, including those providing legal, recruitment, and IT services.