UKGC Cut Machine Data Collection Without New Risk Assessment
FOI reveals regulator removed specific data points for Category B machines from returns, citing existing powers and older consultations.
A Freedom of Information request has shown the UK Gambling Commission stopped collecting specific data on high-stakes gaming machines in arcades and bingo halls. The regulator confirmed it did not conduct a new harm assessment or consult the government on the change, stating it was part of a wider streamlining of data collection.
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A Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure has revealed that the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) removed specific data collection requirements for high-stakes gaming machines without conducting a new harm-impact assessment or consulting the government.
The response, published on the regulator's website, confirms that questions concerning Category B2, B3, and B4 machines were removed from regulatory returns for Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) and Bingo operators earlier this year.
Why This Data Matters
Regulatory returns are a primary tool used by the UKGC to monitor the gambling market, track operator performance, and identify trends that may indicate consumer harm. Category B machines, which include Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) with a £2 stake limit (B2), are among the most scrutinised products in the land-based sector.
By removing machine-specific questions, the Commission now receives less granular data, potentially making it more difficult to analyse risks associated with these particular product categories. This change comes at a time when the industry is implementing wider reforms following the government's 2023 White Paper, which emphasised an evidence-led approach to regulation.
Details of the FOI Request
The request, dated 29 October 2025, asked for documents from between 1 January 2024 and 1 September 2024 relating to the decision. Specifically, it sought:
- Internal decision papers or sign-off records.
- Any risk, harm-impact, or equality assessments.
- Legal advice concerning the change.
- Analysis on why a fresh consultation was not undertaken.
- Correspondence with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
What the UKGC Response Revealed
The Commission stated it held no specific risk assessments, harm assessments, or legal advice for the decision to remove the questions. It also confirmed that it held no correspondence with the DCMS regarding this specific policy change within the requested timeframe.
In its justification, the UKGC explained the change was part of a wider project to streamline data collection, which was signalled in a March 2024 consultation response concerning the frequency of regulatory returns. The regulator stated that the removal of some questions was previously agreed upon in a 2020 consultation.
The UKGC defended its actions by citing Licence Condition 15.3.1, which states that licensees must provide information "in such a form or manner as the Commission may from time-to-time specify.” The regulator asserts this provides it with the scope to add or remove questions without needing to consult the DCMS or seek new legal advice.
Significance for the Industry
While the UKGC presented the change as an operational simplification, the FOI response shows it was made without a bespoke risk analysis for the specific machine categories affected. The lack of any documented communication with the DCMS suggests the regulator viewed this as a minor administrative adjustment, rather than a substantive policy shift concerning the monitoring of high-risk products.
For consumers and transparency advocates, the reduction in granular data collection raises questions about the regulator's ability to maintain robust oversight and react to emerging harms in the land-based machine sector.