UKGC Withholds Star Racing's Regulatory Status

Article Content

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has withheld information regarding the regulatory status of Star Racing Limited, refusing to confirm or deny whether the operator has been placed under “special measures” before or after its most recent fine.

In a response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated 17 June 2025, the regulator stated that disclosing this information could prejudice its law enforcement functions. This leaves consumers without clarity on whether the operator has been subject to this heightened level of regulatory scrutiny.

What are Special Measures?

According to the Gambling Commission, placing an operator into “special measures” is a key tool used to ensure swift compliance. The UKGC’s response notes that this process is for “operators who need to make key improvements” and is designed to protect consumers and reduce the risk of crime.

For a consumer, knowing whether an operator is or has been under special measures provides insight into its compliance history and its ability to meet the required standards for holding a UK gambling licence.

The Commission's Justification

The UKGC invoked Section 31(3) of the Freedom of Information Act, which relates to law enforcement. This allows a public body to “neither confirm nor deny” whether it holds the requested information if doing so would likely prejudice its regulatory activities.

In its public interest test, the Commission weighed the arguments for and against disclosure:

• In Favour of Disclosure: The UKGC acknowledged a “legitimate public interest” in transparency and accountability, which helps consumers make informed decisions about their choice of operator.
• In Favour of Withholding: The regulator argued that confirming or denying the existence of this information could undermine the “free and frank exchange of information” it relies on to work with operators. It stated that disclosure could make operators less cooperative in the future and potentially prejudice ongoing or future investigations, ultimately harming consumer protection.

After weighing the balance, the Commission concluded that the public interest was better served by maintaining the exemption and not revealing whether it held any information on special measures for Star Racing Ltd.

Implications for Consumer Transparency

While the UKGC’s position is that this approach protects its ability to conduct effective investigations, the outcome limits the information available to the public. Consumers researching Star Racing Limited are unable to determine from this request if the company has faced this specific and serious regulatory intervention.

The Commission did state that once a formal regulatory decision is made or a settlement is agreed, it will “ordinarily publish all such decisions in full” on its website at the appropriate time. However, until such a publication is made, the compliance status of the operator in this regard remains undisclosed.