Guidance
Guidance to operators for age verification test purchasing (non-remote)
This guidance explains what data we need from you about age verification test purchasing when you hold a non-remote operating licence.
Guidance on recording and submitting age verification test purchasing results data
Licensees required to conduct age verification test purchasing must send us annual returns listing the aggregated results of age verification test purchasing they, or organisations contracted by them, have conducted each quarter.
Returns must be submitted using a templated Microsoft Excel Open XML format spreadsheet, a blank copy of which follows on this page. Completed spreadsheets are to be submitted to testpurchaseresults@gamblingcommission.gov.uk within 42 days of the end of each UK financial year (that is, by 12 May for the year ending 31 March).
Operators who hold multiple operating licences in different gambling sectors (such as, Adult Gaming Centres, betting, bingo, casino and/or Family Entertainment Centres) must send us separate results spreadsheets for each operating licence they hold.
We only require licensees to send us basic results data (the volume of tests, by result type). But we expect them to record other information, such as the addresses of premises, the relevant local authority area, appropriate time of day a test took place (morning, afternoon, evening) and, where failures occurred, the results of retests. This additional information should be held by the licensee and made available for inspection should we, or a local authority, request it.
Licensees are responsible for submitting their own test purchase results to us directly (that is, not via trade bodies or third-party age verification test purchasing suppliers). We will not accept submissions by third-party age verification test purchasing suppliers for any licensees.
We use age verification test purchase data to assure ourselves that age verification test purchasing is being carried out by licensees and to assess the effectiveness of age verification policies and procedures on a licensee, sector, and industry-wide basis.
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Other age verification related reporting requirements
Last updated: 30 August 2024
Show updates to this content
Information around differences for fee categories amended.