UKGC Reverses Stance on Campaign Comms
Regulator initially denied holding records of communication with the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, before admitting a 'high volume' exists.
A Freedom of Information request has revealed the UK Gambling Commission initially denied holding any communication with the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, before an internal review forced it to admit a 'high volume' of records do exist. The regulator has now refused to release the information, citing excessive costs.
Article Content
UKGC Admits Flawed Search in FOI Response
A Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure has revealed the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) initially told a requester it held no records of communication with the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, only to later reverse this position following an internal review.
The regulator now states it holds a "high volume" of records but has refused to release them, citing the cost of retrieval would exceed the statutory limit.
Context: Transparency in Regulation
The Campaign for Fairer Gambling is a prominent advocacy group that has heavily influenced UK gambling policy, particularly concerning Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs). Understanding the extent and nature of its communication with the UKGC is important for consumers, as it provides insight into how regulatory decisions that affect player protection are shaped.
This FOI request sought to bring transparency to the dialogue between the regulator and a key campaigning organisation.
Details of the FOI Request
The request, dated 23 May 2025, asked for all communication, including meetings and emails, between the UKGC and two parties:
- The Campaign for Fairer Gambling
- Derek Webb (the campaign's founder)
In its initial response, the Commission stated that "no information is held" regarding the Campaign for Fairer Gambling. For the request concerning Derek Webb, the UKGC issued a "neither confirm nor deny" response, citing data protection principles under Section 40(5) of the FOIA.
The Internal Review
The requester challenged the initial finding, prompting an internal review. The review, concluded on 29 May 2025, found that the Commission's original search was inadequate. It had only searched for emails from specific domains associated with the campaign, which yielded no results.
A new, broader search for the phrase "Campaign for fairer Gambling" located a "high volume of records."
Despite now confirming that information is held, the UKGC overturned its original response and applied a Section 12 exemption. This allows a public authority to refuse a request if the cost of locating and extracting the information exceeds £450, equivalent to 18 hours of staff time. The Commission stated that reviewing the high volume of records would be too burdensome.
Significance: What This Means for Consumers
This outcome highlights significant issues in the process of obtaining information from the regulator. The Commission's initial, incorrect denial followed by a refusal on cost grounds raises questions about the thoroughness of its FOI handling processes.
For consumers, the lack of disclosure means the full extent of the dialogue between the UKGC and a major campaign group remains opaque. While the Commission has invited the requester to submit a more refined, narrower request, this places the burden on the public to guess specific timeframes or topics to fit within the cost limits, making comprehensive scrutiny difficult.
The reversal from holding "no information" to a "high volume" of records demonstrates that initial negative responses from public bodies may warrant challenging.