UKGC Withholds Q3 2024 Spending Data

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UKGC Cites Exemption After Failing to Publish Spending Data

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has withheld its own spending and transparency data for the third quarter of 2024, responding to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by stating the information is exempt because it is accessible elsewhere.

The response comes after a member of the public noted that the data, covering July to September 2024, was missing from the Commission's dedicated online transparency portal.

Context: Why This Data Matters

As a public body, the UKGC is expected to maintain a high level of transparency regarding its operations and finances. The organisation is funded primarily through licence fees paid by the gambling operators it regulates.

This spending data is crucial for public accountability, offering consumers and industry observers insight into how the regulator allocates its resources. It can reveal priorities, such as the budget for enforcement actions against non-compliant operators, research into gambling harms, or public awareness campaigns—all of which directly impact player protection.

Details of the Request and Response

The FOI request, dated 2 December 2024, explicitly pointed out the absence of the Q3 2024 file on the UKGC's 'Spend/Transparency data' webpage and asked for a copy.

In its official response, the Commission processed the request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 but chose to withhold the information. It invoked Section 21 of the FOIA, which provides an exemption for information that is “reasonably accessible to the applicant by other means.”

However, the UKGC's response did not provide a direct link to the missing data file. Instead, it pointed the requestor to two general web pages: 'Cabinet Office disclosure requirements' and 'Senior management expenses'. Neither of these links contains the specific quarterly spending data that was requested.

This creates a paradoxical situation where the data was requested because it was not accessible, yet the reason given for refusal is that it is accessible elsewhere—without clarifying where.

Significance: A Question of Transparency

The Commission's handling of this request raises questions about its commitment to its own transparency obligations. By failing to publish the data in the expected location and then refusing to provide it directly when asked, the UKGC has created an information gap concerning its own financial activities for a full quarter.

For consumers, this lack of clarity means it is impossible to scrutinise how the body tasked with protecting them is using its funds. The incident undermines the public's ability to hold the regulator accountable and assess whether its financial priorities align with its core mission of making gambling in Great Britain safer.