UKGC Refers Party to Stats Regulator
FOI reveals watchdog took action over misuse of statistics but withholds key details of the case, citing regulatory process.
The UK Gambling Commission has referred an unnamed party to the Office for Statistics Regulation over the misuse of statistics, a Freedom of Information response has revealed. The regulator withheld details of the case, citing an exemption to protect law enforcement functions.
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A Freedom of Information (FOI) response published by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has revealed that the regulator referred an unnamed third party to the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) over the potential misuse of statistics.
The disclosure, dated 19 June 2024, confirms the UKGC has taken action on how data related to gambling is presented, but key details about the case remain secret.
Why This Matters
Statistics are central to the public and political debate on gambling regulation. Figures on problem gambling rates, industry revenue, and the economic impact of betting are frequently cited by campaigners, politicians, and operators to support their arguments. The integrity of this data is crucial for creating fair and effective consumer protection policies.
A referral to the OSR, the UK’s independent statistics watchdog, suggests a serious concern that data may have been used in a way that is misleading or fails to meet the standards of the official Code of Practice for Statistics.
Breakdown of the Disclosure
The FOI request asked for all correspondence sent by the UKGC regarding the misuse of statistics by other parties between 1 October 2023 and 19 June 2024. In its response, the Commission provided five heavily redacted documents, revealing it had been in contact with several organisations on this topic.
The file names of the released documents indicate correspondence with:
- The Guardian (media outlet)
- HoL (likely the House of Lords)
- UoB (likely a university, such as the University of Birmingham)
- Public Policy Exchange (a policy forum)
- GWL (an unidentified entity)
While the content of this correspondence was largely redacted to protect personal information, the most significant finding was what the UKGC chose to withhold entirely.
The OSR Referral
The Commission confirmed it had “referred one third party to the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).” However, it refused to release any information related to this matter, citing Section 31 (Law Enforcement) of the FOI Act.
The UKGC argued that disclosing details would likely prejudice the OSR's ability to carry out its regulatory functions. It stated that revealing its investigation techniques or undermining the confidential nature of most OSR interventions would not be in the public interest.
In its public interest test, the Commission acknowledged the need for transparency but concluded that “the public interest is better served by withholding this information, at this time, ensuring that the OSR is able to perform its regulatory activities without interference.”
Industry Significance
The referral to the OSR is a formal and significant step. The OSR’s role is to promote and safeguard the production and publication of official statistics that serve the public good. An investigation could lead to a public correction, a formal reprimand, or changes in how an organisation presents data in the future.
By withholding the identity of the referred party and the nature of the statistical misuse, the UKGC leaves consumers, researchers, and policymakers in the dark about which specific data points may be in question. The Commission has directed the public to the OSR’s own public casework log for any potential future updates on the matter.