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Request date: 27 November 2024
This version was printed or saved on: 2 May 2025
Online version: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/about-us/freedomofinformation/national-lottery-ticket-purchases
Kindly provide (from inception and up to 27/11/2024):
Kindly supply the same [1], [2], [3], [4] information for the Euromillions Lottery.
Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
In your email you have requested:
‘Kindly provide (from inception and up to 27/11/2024):
Kindly supply the same [1], [2], [3], [4] information for the Euromillions Lottery.’
In relation to part one and part two of your request, 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.
In order to identify, locate and retrieve the information requested, we conducted a search relating to the total number of National Lottery online and non-online ticket purchases from inception to 27/11/2024 which retrieved a large number of records. In order to identify whether we hold any information falling within the scope of your request we would need to review all of these documents to assess if they were relevant to your request, and therefore we estimate that it would take in excess of 18 hours to determine appropriate material and retrieve and extract any relevant information in reference to your request.
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 refine the timescale of your request, we may be able to narrow the number of records that we need to search.
Until we are able to process the search of the information you have requested, we are unable to ascertain if other exemptions will apply to any material identified 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.
In relation to part three and part four of your request, the Gambling Commission does not hold any information falling within the scope of your request.
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