Reports received by the SBIU relating to Esports

Request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 I request the following information:

1. The number of reports of suspicious betting or potential match-fixing received by the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit, per financial year from April 2021 to the latest available date, broken down by sport, with esports shown separately (and, if recorded, by game title such as Counter-Strike, Dota 2, League of Legends, Valorant).
2. For esports reports in the same period: how many were referred to (a) the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), (b) UK police, (c) regulators outside the UK.
3. The number of esports-related cases in the same period that resulted in regulatory action against a licensee or in a criminal investigation, as far as recorded.
4. Any internal briefing, risk assessment or report produced since January 2023 that discusses integrity risks in esports betting, with personal data redacted.

Response

Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

In your email you have requested:

1. The number of reports of suspicious betting or potential match-fixing received by the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit, per financial year from April 2021 to the latest available date, broken down by sport, with esports shown separately (and, if recorded, by game title such as Counter-Strike, Dota 2, League of Legends, Valorant).
2. For esports reports in the same period: how many were referred to (a) the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), (b) UK police, (c) regulators outside the UK.
3. The number of esports-related cases in the same period that resulted in regulatory action against a licensee or in a criminal investigation, as far as recorded.
4. Any internal briefing, risk assessment or report produced since January 2023 that discusses integrity risks in esports betting, with personal data redacted.

Information relating to sports betting integrity reports and engagement is published on the Gambling Commission website - Sports betting integrity reports and engagement

The number of reports received by the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit specifically relating to esports are as follows:

• 2021/22 - 88
• 2022/23 - 58
• 2023/24 - 32
• 2024/25 - 23
• 2025/26 - 38
• 2026/27 - 26

The Commission is of the view that:

• any further breakdown of this information
• details of referrals made based on reports submitted to the SBIU
• any internal briefing, risk assessment or report produced

other than what is made publicly available, is exempt from disclosure under section 31(1)g of the FOIA and therefore will not be released.

I can confirm that no information related to esports-related cases resulting in regulatory action against a licensee or in a criminal investigation is held by the Gambling Commission. Section 31 (law enforcement)

Section 31(1)(g) exempts information whose disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the exercise by any public authority of its functions for any of the purposes specified in subsection (2).

The Commission considers the subsections below apply and therefore the information is exempt from disclosure:

i. Subsection 31(2)(a) refers to the purpose of ascertaining whether any person has failed to comply with the law,

ii. Subsection 31(2)(b) refers to the purpose of ascertaining whether any person is responsible for any conduct which is improper,

iii. Subsection 31(2)(c) refers to the purpose of ascertaining whether circumstances which would justify regulatory action in pursuance of any enactment exist or may arise, Public interest test

The Commission is a public body which is required to regulate the gambling industry in the public interest. There is therefore a public interest in members of the public having confidence the Commission is being open and honest with the information it holds so that it can be held to account. Further to this, disclosure of the requested information could demonstrate to stakeholders and relevant parties the work that the Commission is undertaking in relation to the information it receives.

However, there is an expectation of confidence in much of the Commission’s work. The Commission has robust and effective processes and procedures in place which are utilised when assessing global and UK esports betting markets. It could seriously impact the Commission’s investigation process, if details of what information it uses to inform its regulatory activities became known; this is strongly not in the public interest as it would impair the Commission’s ability to regulate effectively.

The Commission acknowledges that there is a public interest in promoting the accountability and transparency of public authorities and the importance of having sufficient information in the public domain to support consumers with their choice of operator. However, disclosure of the information would be damaging to the Commission as a regulatory body which ultimately serves to protect the wider public interest. We consider that the public interest is better served by withholding this information.

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