UKGC Held 2,500+ Records on Football Index Pre-Collapse
Regulator cited cost limits to withhold communications data from the 14 months before the platform's failure.
A Freedom of Information request has revealed the UK Gambling Commission held approximately 2,500 records related to Football Index in the 14 months before its collapse. The regulator withheld the information, citing cost limits, preventing disclosure of its communications with other agencies, the public, and government departments regarding the troubled operator.
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A Freedom of Information (FOI) response from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has revealed the regulator held a significant volume of information related to Football Index in the 14 months leading up to the platform's collapse.
In a response dated shortly after the request was made on 18 March 2021, the UKGC confirmed that keyword searches on its systems generated "approximately 2,500 records potentially relevant" to an inquiry about the troubled operator. However, the Commission withheld all the information, citing cost and time constraints.
Background: The Football Index Collapse
Football Index, operated by BetIndex Ltd, was a platform that allowed customers to buy and sell 'shares' in professional football players, with 'dividends' paid based on performance. It was licensed by the UKGC.
In March 2021, the platform announced a drastic reduction in dividend payouts, causing the value of player 'shares' to plummet and leading to substantial consumer losses. The company's licence was subsequently suspended by the UKGC, and BetIndex entered administration. This FOI request was submitted just as these events were unfolding.
Details of the Information Request
The request sought a wide range of communications concerning Football Index from 1 January 2020 onwards, including:
- Correspondence with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Details of complaints made by the public.
- Concerns raised by gambling industry figures.
- Internal UKGC discussions about the operator.
- Correspondence with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and other government departments.
In its refusal, the UKGC stated that reviewing the 2,500 identified records to extract the relevant information would exceed the statutory cost limit of £450, which is equivalent to 18 hours of staff time. Under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, public authorities can refuse requests on these grounds.
The Commission noted that the requester could submit a more narrowly focused request, but cautioned that other exemptions might still apply, preventing disclosure.
What This Reveals for Consumers
The existence of approximately 2,500 records demonstrates that Football Index was the subject of extensive communication and data collection within the UKGC and between the regulator and external bodies well before its licence was suspended.
The data would have included public complaints and discussions with other key agencies like the FCA and DCMS. The refusal to release this information, while permissible under FOIA rules, prevented public scrutiny of what the regulator knew about the mounting issues at Football Index and what actions it was considering during a critical period.
For consumers, this highlights the significant level of activity surrounding a high-risk operator prior to its failure. The volume of records suggests the regulator was aware of or actively discussing the platform, but the use of the Section 12 exemption means the specific content of those discussions and the timeline of any warnings remain undisclosed through this request.