UKGC Withholds Recent Suicide Notification Data
Regulator cites future publication plans and protecting assessment methods in a Freedom of Information response.
The UK Gambling Commission has declined to release up-to-date figures on suicide notifications from operators, stating the data is intended for future annual publication. The regulator also withheld internal policies on how it assesses these reports, arguing their release could undermine its regulatory functions.
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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has refused to provide up-to-date figures on suicide notifications received from gambling operators, stating the information is intended for future publication. The decision came in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request filed on 9 September 2025.
The request sought the total number of suicide notifications received from operators since 1 April 2024, a monthly breakdown, and the number of operators filing reports. It also asked for internal policy documents related to how the Commission assesses these notifications.
A New Reporting Requirement
Since 1 April 2024, a new rule under Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP 15.2.2) has required licensed operators to inform the UKGC if they become aware that a customer has died by suicide.
This data is collected for regulatory purposes, including informing compliance and enforcement work and shaping future policy on customer interaction and gambling harm prevention. The Commission cautions that the data is not a comprehensive measure of suicides associated with gambling, as operators may not always be aware of a customer's death and causality is not determined by these reports.
Data Withheld for Future Publication
In its response, the UKGC confirmed that it has already published data covering the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, making that information exempt under Section 21 of the FOIA as it is reasonably accessible elsewhere.
However, the Commission withheld more recent data from 1 April 2025 onwards, invoking Section 22 of the FOIA, which exempts information held with a view to future publication. The regulator stated its intention to publish this data on an annual basis.
The UKGC argued that the public interest in allowing it to publish the data with full context and analysis outweighs the interest in immediate disclosure. It stated, "Premature publication of this data could lead to an incomplete and unclear picture emerging and would be likely to cause prejudice to both our compliance and enforcement work and policy development."
Assessment Policies Also Kept Secret
The request for internal guidance and policy documents used to assess these notifications was also refused. The Commission cited Section 31 of the FOIA, arguing that disclosure would likely prejudice the exercise of its regulatory functions.
According to the UKGC, releasing its assessment methods could enable operators to "undermine and circumvent the assessment process." The regulator's concern is that unscrupulous organisations could use the information to tailor their reporting to avoid scrutiny, ultimately impacting consumer protection.
Significance for Consumers
The Commission's decision means that consumers, researchers, and campaigners must wait for the UKGC's annual publication schedule to see the most current trends in these critical safety reports. While the regulator defends its position as necessary for maintaining robust oversight, the refusal to disclose its assessment criteria limits public transparency into how the UKGC acts on reports of the most severe gambling-related harms.