UKGC Lacks Data on Gambling Venue Visitor Numbers

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Regulator Confirms It Does Not Hold Premises Visit Data

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed that the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) does not hold data on the number of people who visit land-based gambling establishments such as casinos and betting shops. This disclosure highlights a significant gap in the regulator's data on the land-based gambling sector.

In a request dated 17 February 2023, a user asked for an approximate figure for the number of annual visits to licensed gambling venues in the UK. The UKGC’s official response was that the information was not held.

What the Response Reveals

The Commission confirmed it does not collect “actual numbers” of visitors to gambling premises directly from operators. This means the organisation responsible for regulating the UK's gambling industry does not have a direct measure of footfall within the thousands of betting shops, bingo halls, and casinos across the country.

Instead of collecting direct visitor counts, the UKGC pointed the requester towards its quarterly telephone survey. In its response, the Commission stated: “You may find it useful to view our quarterly telephone survey release, published on our website. This publication contains estimates of gambling participation.”

This distinction is crucial for consumers to understand:

• Visitor Data (Not Held): This would be the total number of entries into a gambling venue. It is a direct, factual measure of activity but does not distinguish between unique individuals and repeat visits.
• Participation Data (Held): This is based on surveys where people self-report their gambling habits. It provides an estimate of how many people are gambling, but it is subject to the limitations of survey data, such as memory recall and response bias.

The FOI request specifically asked for visitor numbers, but the regulator can only provide estimates on the number of people who participate in gambling.

Why This Matters for Consumers

The absence of basic footfall data is a significant finding. While the online gambling sector is monitored with granular detail, this response suggests a major blind spot in the UKGC's oversight of the land-based environment.

Without this data, it is more challenging for the regulator to:

• Assess the true scale of in-person gambling activity.
• Analyse trends in venue popularity and decline.
• Measure the direct impact of local risk assessments and licensing policies.
• Build a complete picture of gambling behaviour to inform consumer protection strategies.

For consumers, this lack of information means that the body tasked with ensuring their safety may be operating without a fundamental dataset on how, when, and where in-person gambling is taking place. This reliance on survey estimates rather than direct operator data for premises activity limits the regulator's ability to fully understand and react to trends in the land-based market.