Call (0121) 230 6655 in confidence to help keep gambling crime free

Press release

Date: 19 May 2010

The Gambling Commission (the Commission) is (on Wednesday) launching a new confidential intelligence line to allow gamblers, licensed operators and sports people alike to 'tip-off' the authorities on illicit gambling.

The new line (0121 230 6655) allows individuals to make anonymous reports to help the Commission tackle both illegal unlicensed gambling and non-compliant licensed gambling. The line is staffed by the Commission’s existing intelligence experts between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday (a message can be left outside of these hours).

The line will support the work of the Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit on potential match fixing as well as helping to tackle the illegal supply of machines, betting in pubs and other regulatory and legal issues. Every call will be fed into the Commission’s ongoing intelligence picture with possible compliance and law enforcement action to follow. During a recent pre-launch phase, the line received a number of relevant calls including specific intelligence about an alleged illegal betting operation which is already being addressed.

The Commission’s Director of Regulation, Nick Tofiluk said:

“This confidential line will give people more confidence when they want to tip-off the Commission about gambling-related crime.

“If you know or suspect that illicit gambling is taking place then help keep gambling safe by calling the Commission on (0121) 230 6655.”

Ends

Notes to editors

The Gambling Commission

  1. 1. The Gambling Commission (the Commission) regulates gambling in the public interest alongside its co-regulators local licensing authorities. It does so by keeping crime out of gambling, by ensuring that gambling is conducted fairly and openly, and by protecting children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling. The Commission also provides independent advice to government on gambling in Britain.
  2. 2. The Commission and local licensing authorities are responsible for licensing and regulating all gambling in Great Britain other than the National Lottery and spread betting, which are the responsibility of the National Lottery Commission and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) respectively.
  3. 3. The line is for intelligence purposes and consumer complaints about gambling issues should be made to licensed operators in the first instance.
  4. 4.  More information about the intelligence line can be found on our website.

Further information

  1. You can call John Travers on (0121) 230 6700, (07852) 124624 or email him via communications@gamblingcommission.gov.uk.