UKGC Refers BGC for Misusing Statistics
Freedom of Information request reveals industry body was reported to the UK's statistics regulator in 2023.
A Freedom of Information request has revealed the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) referred the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) to the Office for Statistics Regulation for misusing official statistics in 2023. This was the only such referral made by the regulator during this period.
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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) referred the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) to the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) for the misuse of Official Statistics, a Freedom of Information (FOI) response has confirmed.
The disclosure reveals that the BGC was the only organisation referred to the statistics watchdog by the gambling regulator in 2023 to date.
Why This Matters
Accurate data is fundamental to understanding gambling trends, participation rates, and levels of harm. The BGC is the main trade body for the UK's gambling industry, representing approximately 90% of operators. The statistics it publishes and quotes are influential in shaping public opinion and informing policy debates.
A referral to the Office for Statistics Regulation is a formal step taken when an organisation is suspected of misusing or misrepresenting official data. The OSR is the independent regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority, tasked with ensuring that statistics serve the public good. For consumers, this action by the UKGC raises questions about the reliability of data presented by the industry's most prominent voice and reinforces the importance of seeking information from impartial sources.
The FOI Disclosure
The information was released following a request made to the Gambling Commission on 16 September 2023. The request asked the regulator to name all organisations and individuals it had referred to the OSR for the misuse of Official Statistics during 2023.
In its response, the UKGC provided a full disclosure, stating:
"I can confirm that at this stage the Commission has referred only the Betting and Gaming Council to the Office for Statistics Regulation for the misuse of Official Statistics."
The Commission did not withhold any information, confirming that the BGC was the sole subject of such a referral within the specified timeframe.
Significance for the Industry
This action by the UKGC highlights its regulatory oversight extending beyond licensed operators to the public statements made by industry bodies. It signals a commitment to ensuring that the public discourse on gambling is based on a fair and accurate representation of official data.
When an organisation like the BGC uses statistics, it is expected to comply with the Code of Practice for Statistics, which promotes trustworthiness, quality, and value. A referral to the OSR suggests the UKGC had concerns that these principles may have been breached.
For consumers and researchers, this development serves as a crucial reminder to critically assess the source and presentation of all gambling-related statistics. It reinforces the role of the UKGC and OSR as key arbiters of data integrity within the sector.