UKGC: No Records on Post-Brexit Gambling Rule Changes

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A Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure has revealed that the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) holds no recorded information regarding post-Brexit changes to gambling regulations.

The response, issued following a request made on 18 August 2023, indicates a lack of formal, documented work between the regulator and UK Government departments to formulate, propose, or amend gambling laws specifically as a result of the UK leaving the European Union.

What the FOI Request Asked

For consumers, the regulatory landscape dictates the protections they receive when gambling. Brexit presented an opportunity for the UK to diverge from EU-era laws and create its own bespoke rules. The FOI request sought to understand the extent to which this had happened in the gambling sector, asking the UKGC for specifics on:

• Collaboration with any Government department to formulate suggestions for post-Brexit regulatory changes.
• The number of regulatory changes the UKGC has proposed.
• The number of regulations relating to the UKGC that have been repealed or amended due to Brexit.

The Commission's Response: Information Not Held

In response to all questions, the Gambling Commission stated: "no recorded information falling within the scope of your request is held by the Gambling Commission."

This is not a refusal to provide information, but a statement that no such records—like emails, official reports, or meeting minutes—exist within the Commission's systems that match the request's criteria. The UKGC noted it had given the same response to a similar, more detailed request from the same individual on 31 May 2023.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, public bodies are only required to provide recorded information they hold. They are not obligated to create new information or provide opinions.

What This Means for Consumers and the Industry

The disclosure suggests that, as of late 2023, the UK's departure from the EU has not been a direct catalyst for a formal overhaul of gambling regulation. While the industry is undergoing significant transformation following the government's Gambling Act Review White Paper, these changes appear to stem from a domestic policy agenda rather than a specific post-Brexit strategy.

For consumers, this indicates a degree of regulatory stability. The rules and protections governing online and land-based gambling have not been subject to a wave of repeals or amendments directly linked to Brexit. The core legal framework that operators must adhere to, and which provides consumer safeguards, has remained consistent in this regard.

The finding implies that the existing UK gambling regulations were not heavily entwined with EU law, or that the government and the regulator have not identified a need for specific, Brexit-driven reforms. The focus for regulatory change remains firmly on the implementation of the White Paper's proposals, which represent the most significant shift in UK gambling law in a generation.