Interactive Instant Win Games & Scratchcard winnings
Request
I would like to submit an FOI request please with relation to the number of winnings paid out over the sum of £50 to customers between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 with the total amount paid out with relation to the number of games played and the amount paid in by the customer please with figures broken down into games played online and scratch cards?
So will be presented thusly:
Date period 01/04/23-31/03/24
Online app number of games paid out over £50 Paid in total Paid out total
Scratch card number of games paid out over £50 Paid in total Paid out total
Response
Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
In your email you have requested the number of winnings paid out over the sum of £50 to customers between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 with the total amount paid out with relation to the number of games played and the amount paid in by the customer with figures broken down into games played online and scratch cards.
We have broken down your request into the following elements:
IIWGs (01/04/2023 - 31/03/2024)
- The number of IIWG prizes paid out over £50
- The total amount spent on IIWGs
- The total amount of prizes paid out on IIWGs
Scratchcards (01/04/2023 - 31/03/2024)
- The number of Scratchcard prizes paid out over £50
- The total amount spent on Scratchcards
- The total amount of prizes paid out on Scratchcards
With regards to element one of the request, we have assessed our approach in identifying the information we hold within scope of this element based on historical similar requests of this nature (but not in scale). For example, we have received similar requests in the past which focussed on just one specific game as opposed to the entire ‘Instants’ portfolio. Having conducted this assessment, we note the following:
- We would need to first establish the data we hold and all the applicable games (Scratchcards and IIWGs) that were available during this period. This would cover a large volume of material, due to the number of ‘Instant’ games in scope and the fact that the portfolio is refreshed on a very regular basis.
- The data is held in daily reports and would need manually extracting for every game over this time period, pulling out the individual game prize tiers for each game over the £50 limit (which, for context, for some games there are 10+ ways to just win over £50).
Therefore, I can confirm that the Gambling Commission does hold information falling within the scope of your request. However this element of the request alone, would take an excessive amount of time to process. By way of example, a historic request we processed focussed on just one IIWG took three hours to compile; this request seeks information for all games within one year period and therefore would take many multiples of those 3 hours to complete.
Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) makes provision for public authorities to refuse requests for information where the cost of dealing with them would exceed the appropriate limit, which for public authorities, such as the Commission, is set at £450. This represents the estimated cost of one person spending 18 hours in determining whether the department holds the information, locating, retrieving and extracting the information.
We estimate that it would take in excess of 18 hours to determine appropriate material and locate, retrieve and extract any relevant information in reference to your request as there is a high volume of records which may contain relevant information and would need to be checked individually.
When a public authority applies the Section 12 exemption to a request, the FOIA guidance specifically states that a public authority should avoid providing any information found as a result of a search as it denies the requestor the right to express a preference as to which parts of the request they may wish to receive within the appropriate time limit. Guidance on the application of section 12 can be viewed here:
If you are able to narrow your request, we may be able to provide some data by working up to the time limit.
Until we are able to process the search and retrieval of the information you have requested, that can be provided within the statutory time limit, we are unable to ascertain if other exemptions will apply to the material retrieved, which would also prevent disclosure.
Please note, any refined request would be processed as a new request and the 20 working day statutory time limit would apply.
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