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Request date: 10 May 2026
This version was printed or saved on: 2 August 2026
Online version: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/about-us/freedomofinformation/the-promotion-of-unlicensed-online-gambling-operators-on-social-media
Please provide, for the period 1 January 2025 to 30 April 2026 only:
The number of cases identified by the Gambling Commission relating to the promotion of illegal or unlicensed online gambling operators by influencers, streamers, affiliates, or content creators on social media platforms.
The number of instances during this period where the Commission took action in response, including:
Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
In your email you have requested, for the period 1 January 2025 to 30 April 2026 only: The number of cases identified by the Gambling Commission relating to the promotion of illegal or unlicensed online gambling operators by influencers, streamers, affiliates, or content creators on social media platforms.
The number of instances during this period where the Commission took action in response, including:
Information that would fall within the scope of your request would be recorded with the Gambling Commission Intelligence platform. However, we do not have categories for ‘influencers, streamers, affiliates, or content creators.’
Reports of this nature would be recorded under the subjects ‘Illegal lottery’ and ‘unlicensed remote operator’. During the time period you have specified there were 5263 reports recorded under these categories (3056 lotteries & 2207 unlicensed remote operators’.
As such, the type of information you are requesting is not in an easily extractable format and would require a manual review across a large volume of Gambling Commission data to retrieve. 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.
If you are able to narrow your request, we may be able to provide some data by working up to the time limit. However, 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.
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