UKGC Holds 'Large Volume' of Allwyn-Russia Records
Regulator refuses to release documents on National Lottery operator's owner, citing high cost of retrieval.
The UK Gambling Commission has confirmed it holds a 'large volume' of records concerning the Russian business ties of National Lottery operator Allwyn's owner. The regulator refused a Freedom of Information request to release the documents, stating the cost to do so would be too high.
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Regulator Confirms Existence of Extensive Records on Allwyn Owner
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) holds a "large volume of records" concerning the Russian business ties of Karel Komarek, the owner of new National Lottery operator Allwyn. However, the regulator has refused to release the information, citing the excessive cost required to process the request.
The disclosure came in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated 22 April 2024. The request sought internal and external communications, reports, and advice held by the Commission regarding Komarek, Allwyn, and his wider KKCG holding company.
What the FOI Request Asked For
The request specifically targeted information generated since 1 January 2021 that mentioned Komarek's connections to Russian businesses. It asked the UKGC to search for documents containing keywords for sanctioned or state-linked Russian entities, including:
- Sberbank
- VTB
- Gazprom
- Kremlin
- MND (a KKCG-owned company that previously had a joint venture with Gazprom)
This information is of significant public interest, as Allwyn took over the licence to operate the UK National Lottery in February 2024, a position of considerable public trust and scrutiny. Questions regarding Komarek's past business dealings in Russia have been raised since Allwyn was first named the preferred applicant for the licence.
Why the Information Was Withheld
The Gambling Commission refused the request under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This section allows public authorities to deny requests where the cost of fulfilling them would exceed the statutory limit of £450, which equates to approximately 18 hours of staff time.
In its response, the UKGC stated: "This search has returned a large volume of records, each of which would need to be reviewed manually to assess if they fall within the scope of your request... We estimate that it would take in excess of 18 hours to determine appropriate material and locate, retrieve and extract any relevant information."
What This Reveals for Consumers
While no documents were released, the Commission's response is revealing. The confirmation that a search for these specific terms returned a "large volume of records" indicates that the regulator possesses a significant amount of information on this topic. It suggests that the UKGC has either actively investigated, been briefed on, or has received substantial correspondence regarding the new National Lottery operator's owner and his past links to Russian entities.
For consumers and the public, this means that while the regulator has been examining the issue, the specifics of its findings and the nature of its due diligence remain confidential. The refusal prevents public scrutiny of the information the UKGC holds and on which it based its decision to deem Allwyn and its owner fit and proper to run the National Lottery.
The Commission noted that the requester could submit a refined, narrower request which it might be able to answer within the cost limit. However, any such submission would be treated as a new request, restarting the 20-working-day response clock.