Lottery Contest Drove UKGC Temp Hiring
FOI data reveals the regulator spent over £100,000 on 20 temporary staff in one year, with half dedicated to the National Lottery competition.
A Freedom of Information request has revealed the UK Gambling Commission spent £101,502 on 20 temporary workers during the 2022/23 fiscal year. The data shows half of these temporary staff were assigned to the 4th National Lottery Competition, highlighting the project's significant resource demands.
Article Content
A Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure has provided a detailed look into the UK Gambling Commission's (UKGC) use of temporary staff, revealing an expenditure of £101,502.78 on 20 temporary workers during the most recent complete fiscal year.
The data, released following a request dated 25 April 2023, shows that the 4th National Lottery Competition was the single largest driver of temporary recruitment, accounting for half of all temporary staff.
Why This Matters
The UKGC's staffing levels and allocation of resources are critical to its ability to effectively regulate the UK's gambling industry and protect consumers. This data offers a transparent view of how the Commission uses flexible, short-term labour to manage its operational demands, particularly for large-scale, time-sensitive projects. It provides insight into the regulator's priorities and the operational costs associated with its key functions.
A Breakdown of the Figures
The FOI response details the number of temporary workers and associated costs across several departments for the 2022/2023 fiscal year.
Temporary Staff by Department:
- 4th National Lottery Competition: 10
- Legal: 3
- Licensing: 3
- Finance: 2
- Facilities: 1
- People Services: 1
- Total: 20
Expenditure by Department: The total spend on these workers was £101,502.78. The disclosed breakdown is as follows:
- Finance: £36,156.20
- Legal: £26,657.32
- Operations and Performance: £23,812.19
- Licensing: £7,160.10
The Commission redacted the expenditure for the Facilities and People Services departments. This action was taken under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, which protects personal data. As each of these departments engaged only one temporary worker, disclosing the cost could potentially identify an individual's salary, which the UKGC deemed would not be fair or in the public interest.
Procurement and Suppliers
The UKGC stated it used six different agency suppliers during the financial year. Rather than maintaining a preferred list, the regulator sources temporary labour through the Crown Commercial Service's (CCS) framework agreement. This is a standard public sector practice designed to ensure compliance and value for money.
The Commission confirmed it has no plans to change this procurement approach unless there is a change in public procurement policy.
Significance of the Data
The figures reveal a targeted use of temporary staff by the UKGC. The significant allocation of resources to the 4th National Lottery Competition—a major, complex, and high-stakes project—demonstrates the Commission's need for specialist, short-term support to manage its core regulatory duties. The use of temporary workers in key departments like Legal, Licensing, and Finance also indicates a strategy to maintain operational capacity and fill specific skill gaps as they arise.