UKGC Withholds Lottery Game Win Data

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has refused to release detailed performance data for individual National Lottery instant win games, citing the need to protect the operator's commercial interests. The decision, revealed in a Freedom of Information (FOI) response dated 23 April 2024, means consumers cannot access data on how many times each game is played or the ratio of plays to prizes won.

The regulator also confirmed that it does not hold information on the number of prizes 'won', a significant distinction from prizes 'claimed'.

The Request for Transparency

A member of the public requested specific data for the 41 Interactive Instant Win Games (IIWGs) currently available on the National Lottery app. The request asked for:

• The number of times each game had been entered.
• The number of winners for each available prize tier in every game.
• The ratio of game entries to prizes won, for each game and each prize tier.

This level of detail would allow consumers to assess the popularity and prize distribution of specific games, similar to how return-to-player (RTP) percentages function for online slots.

Commercial Interests Prioritised

The Gambling Commission confirmed it holds data on the number of times each game has been played but chose to withhold it under section 43 of the FOIA, which covers commercially sensitive information.

The regulator argued that releasing this data would reveal the best-performing games to competitors. It stated that other operators could use this insight to "recreate and promote the games which perform strongest for The National Lottery," potentially harming sales.

In its public interest assessment, the UKGC concluded that any harm to National Lottery sales could reduce the level of funding for Good Causes, which would impact the Commission's own statutory duties. The regulator stated: "disclosure would be likely to impact on the commercial interests of the operator [Allwyn] and the statutory duties of the Gambling Commission."

Regulator Does Not Track Prizes 'Won'

Perhaps the most significant revelation from the response is that the UKGC does not hold the other parts of the requested information. Specifically, it does not have data on the number of prizes won for each game or the ratio of entries to wins.

The Commission clarified that in a similar 2020 request, the data it provided was for prizes claimed, not prizes won. This distinction is critical for consumers, as it indicates a potential gap between the number of winning tickets generated by a game and the number of prizes that are actually paid out to players.

The UKGC noted that information on prizes won may be held by the operator, Allwyn, but it is not data the regulator is required to collect as part of its regulatory functions.

What This Means for Consumers

This decision highlights a limit on the transparency available for National Lottery products. While overall sales data is published, players cannot access granular performance metrics to compare individual instant win games.

The regulator's stance prioritises the commercial viability of the National Lottery and its contributions to Good Causes over providing consumers with detailed data that could inform their purchasing decisions. The confirmation that the UKGC does not track prizes 'won' also raises questions about the completeness of regulatory oversight concerning prize distribution and payout rates for these popular games.