UKGC Holds No Data on Allwyn Lottery UI Change
FOI request reveals regulator does not have the research behind a controversial change to online ticket purchasing.
The UK Gambling Commission has confirmed it does not hold the research justifying a change by National Lottery operator Allwyn that automatically selects multiple draws for players. The disclosure raises questions about regulatory oversight of user interface changes that may influence consumer spending.
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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) does not hold the market research or 'insights' that National Lottery operator Allwyn used to justify a recent change to its online ticket purchasing system, a Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure has revealed.
The response confirms that the regulator has no recorded information on the evidence behind Allwyn's decision to automatically select all weekly draws for a game, a change from the previous system where players had to opt-in to additional draws.
Context: A Change in Player Choice
Under the new system implemented by Allwyn, when a player buys an online ticket for a game like Lotto, the website automatically selects entry for all draws within that week (e.g., both Wednesday and Saturday). Previously, players would select a single draw and had to manually add subsequent draws if they wished to play them.
This change prompted a consumer to file an FOI request on 12 December 2025, asking the UKGC to provide the “supposed ‘insights’ which Allwyn have that indicated players would prefer to automatically have every single draw selected.”
Details of the FOI Response
The Gambling Commission stated that it does not hold the requested information. In its official response, the regulator clarified its role under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
It explained that the Act provides a right to access recorded information held by the public authority itself, in this case, the UKGC. It does not compel the authority to retrieve information from third parties, such as a licensed operator like Allwyn.
The UKGC's response stated: “I can confirm that no recorded information falling within the scope of your request is held by the Gambling Commission.”
This is not a refusal to supply information, but a confirmation that the data is not part of the Commission's records. The research, if it exists, is held by Allwyn.
Significance for Consumers and Regulation
The disclosure highlights a key aspect of the UK's regulatory framework. While the Gambling Commission is responsible for licensing and regulating operators, it does not necessarily hold the internal business or marketing data that informs every operational change an operator makes.
For consumers, this means that changes to a product's user interface that may encourage higher spending—such as moving from an 'opt-in' to an 'opt-out' system—are not automatically subject to a regulatory review of the evidence behind them. The responsibility rests with the operator to ensure its practices align with its licence conditions, particularly those concerning fair and transparent play and social responsibility.
This case underscores the division of information between the operator and the regulator, raising questions about the level of direct oversight the UKGC has on specific user experience modifications that could influence player behaviour and expenditure.