Action against unlicensed gambling websites
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information for calendar years 2025 and 2019:
(a) the number of illegal (unlicensed) gambling websites the Gambling Commission took action against, for example through cease and desist notices or referrals to internet service providers, search engines or payment providers
(b) the number of social media posts, accounts or online adverts promoting illegal gambling that were removed following action or referral by the Gambling Commission
If the Commission has already published these figures, a link to the relevant publication would be sufficient. If the figures for 2019 were recorded differently, please provide what you hold and explain the difference.
If this request would exceed the appropriate cost limit, please advise me under section 16 what information you could provide within it.
Response
Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
In your email you have requested:
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information for calendar years 2025 and 2019:
a) the number of illegal (unlicensed) gambling websites the Gambling Commission took action against, for example through cease and desist notices or referrals to internet service providers, search engines or payment providers
b) the number of social media posts, accounts or online adverts promoting illegal gambling that were removed following action or referral by the Gambling Commission
Details of activities to tackle unlicensed gambling and outcomes is available on the Gambling Commission website, dating back to April 2025 - Activity to tackle unlicensed gambling and outcomes.
No information falling within the scope of your request is held for 2019.
Review of the decision
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your Freedom of Information request you are entitled to an internal review of our decision. You should write to FOI Team, Gambling Commission, 4th floor, Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B2 4BP or by reply to this email.
Please note, internal review requests should be made within 40 working days of the initial response. Requests made outside this timeframe will not be processed.
If you are not content with the outcome of our review, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have already exhausted the review procedure provided by the Gambling Commission.
It should be noted that if you wish to raise a complaint with the ICO about the Commission’s handling of your request for information, then you are required to do so within six weeks of receiving your final response or last substantive contact with us.
The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office (opens in a new tab), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Information Management Team
Gambling Commission