Jason Davies, data analytics manager at the UK Gambling Commission, said the recent move to quarterly reporting for the UK gambling market supports the body’s desired direction of being “risk-based, evidence-driven and focused on results.”
UK Gambling Commission quarterly reporting base
Davies noted that the changes to the presentation of regulatory returns also align with the commission’s “Corporate Strategy 2024 to 2027.”
Harmonized reporting periods have also been introduced. In other words, all licensees are now required to submit data for the same period. This will help the commission “analyze market changes in a timely manner and manage our revenue more effectively” and publish information more frequently.
Then, in March, the UK Gambling Commission changed the frequency with which gambling licensees were required to submit regulatory return reports to quarterly.
The new code’s License Conditions and Codes of Practice came into force on 1 July. Therefore, the commission had to review the regulations for licensees submitting documents annually.
Evidence-driven and results-focused reporting
Commenting on the change, Davies said: “The quarterly returns support our aim to be a risk-based, evidence-based and results-focused regulator. So they contribute to our aspirations outlined in our Corporate Strategy 2024 to 2027. We will use data and analytics to make gambling regulation more effective.
“In addition to quarterly submissions for all licensees, we have introduced harmonized reporting periods,” he added. This means that all licensees submit data for the same period, in the first instance for the period from 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024.
And, he added: “This is important as more regular data, coupled with equal reporting periods, will ensure the Commission can analyze market changes in a timely manner and manage our revenue more efficiently.
“It also means we can publish this information more frequently. They will be useful for those who want to use our official statistics on the gambling market for their own work.”
Therefore, before the changes were made, the UK Gambling Commission consulted the industry on the proposed changes. Some interviewees raised their concerns regarding the increased frequency of reporting.
Therefore, Davies noted that the commission “attempted to balance this by removing a significant number of questions from regulatory statements across all types of statements.” The full list of questions that have been removed can be found HERE.
