This box is not visible in the printed version.
Request date: 29 May 2026
This version was printed or saved on: 16 June 2026
Online version: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/about-us/freedomofinformation/premises-removed-from-the-gambling-register
I understand that you publish a live register of gambling premises, updated nightly. In response to a previous FOI request (14 March 2025, published on your website), you provided a spreadsheet of active premises including their start dates, which suggests that date-level data is held within your systems.
I would like to request equivalent information for premises that have been removed from the register, whether due to closure, licence surrender, revocation, or any other reason. Specifically, for each removed premises:
All standard fields present in the live register (such as postcode, premises type, and operator name)
The date the premises was first added to the register
The date it was removed
The reason for removal, if recorded
If records of removed premises are not held in the register itself, I would be grateful if you could clarify what information is retained elsewhere within your systems, and under which category of your data retention policy premises register entries fall. Given that the policy sets out a five-year retention period for licensee and operator documents, and that premises licences are directly linked to operator licences, I would welcome clarification on whether removed premises fall under this category, and if not, why they are treated differently.
Where information is only partially available, I would welcome whatever can be provided rather than the request being treated as out of scope entirely.
Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
In your email you have requested:
‘I understand that you publish a live register of gambling premises, updated nightly. In response to a previous FOI request (14 March 2025, published on your website), you provided a spreadsheet of active premises including their start dates, which suggests that date-level data is held within your systems.
I would like to request equivalent information for premises that have been removed from the register, whether due to closure, licence surrender, revocation, or any other reason. Specifically, for each removed premises:
All standard fields present in the live register (such as postcode, premises type, and operator name)
The date the premises was first added to the register
The date it was removed
The reason for removal, if recorded.
If records of removed premises are not held in the register itself, I would be grateful if you could clarify what information is retained elsewhere within your systems, and under which category of your data retention policy premises register entries fall. Given that the policy sets out a five-year retention period for licensee and operator documents, and that premises licences are directly linked to operator licences, I would welcome clarification on whether removed premises fall under this category, and if not, why they are treated differently.’
The Gambling Commission does not issue premises licences. The register is published with the caveat that the Gambling Commission cannot provide any assurances on the completeness and accuracy of this data. You should contact individual licensing authorities to obtain more detailed information about premises licences.
The premises register on our website is not a “Live” register of premises, only a list of premises that the Commission have been informed of that do not have an end date on the address record. As a result, this list could include premises where the application with the Local Authority has not been submitted, has only just been submitted, or is still in progress and therefore the actual building may not be trading. This list also contains addresses that have been supplied directly by the operator, and therefore the Commission would not necessarily know the status of the premises licence.
In relation to your request, please see the attached extract from the main operator account record we hold. Please note:
In relation to the retention of the information, we hold all data for an operator for 7 years after the end date of their last licence, which would also include premises information.
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 new tab), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Information Management Team
Gambling Commission
Some files may be not be accessible for users of assistive technology. If you require a copy of the file in an accessible format contact us (opens in new tab) with details of what you require. It would help us to know what technology you use and the required format.
PDF Files Some PDF files cannot be displayed in a browser, you will see a message saying "Please wait...". If you see this message, you will need to download the file and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader (opens in a new tab).