UKGC: Public Premises Register May Be Inaccurate
Regulator refuses data request, pointing to a public list it cannot guarantee is complete or accurate.
The UK Gambling Commission has revealed its public register of gambling premises may not be complete or accurate. The admission came in a response to a Freedom of Information request for a list of venues in the North East, which the regulator refused.
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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has admitted it “cannot provide any assurances on the completeness and accuracy” of its own public register of gambling premises. The statement came in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request seeking data on gambling venues in the North East of England.
On 10 April 2025, a request was made for a detailed list of all active arcades, amusement centres, and family entertainment venues across 12 local authorities in the North East. The request asked for specific details including business names, addresses, and retailer types in a machine-readable format.
The UKGC's Response
The Commission formally withheld the information, citing Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act, which exempts information that is already “reasonably accessible elsewhere.”
Instead of providing the requested file, the UKGC directed the applicant to its live public register of gambling premises. However, the response included a significant disclaimer about the reliability of this data.
“The register is published with the caveat that the Gambling Commission cannot provide any assurances on the completeness and accuracy of this data,” the regulator stated. It also noted that it does not retain historical records of the register, as the data is generated dynamically from its live systems.
Why This Matters for Consumers
For consumers, researchers, and local communities, having access to accurate, centralised data on the location and density of gambling premises is crucial for understanding the gambling landscape in their area. This information can inform decisions, support research into gambling-related harm, and ensure transparency.
The UKGC’s admission raises questions about the reliability of its primary public-facing tool for premises information. While the data is publicly available, the regulator’s own lack of confidence in its accuracy presents a challenge for anyone seeking a definitive picture of land-based gambling in Great Britain.
Who Holds the Definitive Data?
The Commission clarified that it does not issue premises licences itself. This responsibility lies with local licensing authorities, which are typically the local councils for the area where a venue is located.
In its response, the UKGC advised: “You should contact individual licensing authorities to obtain more detailed information about premises licences.”
This means that for a truly accurate and complete list of gambling venues in a region like the North East, a person would need to contact all 12 individual councils, including:
- Middlesbrough Council
- Redcar & Cleveland Council
- Hartlepool Borough Council
- Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
- Darlington Borough Council
- Durham County Council
- Gateshead Council
- Sunderland Council
- South Tyneside Council
- North Tyneside Council
- Newcastle City Council
- Northumberland County Council
This fragmented approach makes it significantly more difficult for the public to access comprehensive data, placing the burden of data collection on the individual rather than the national regulator.