Cookies on the Gambling Commission website

The Gambling Commission website uses cookies to make the site work better for you. Some of these cookies are essential to how the site functions and others are optional. Optional cookies help us remember your settings, measure your use of the site and personalise how we communicate with you. Any data collected is anonymised and we do not set optional cookies unless you consent.

Set cookie preferences

You've accepted all cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Licensees and businesses
  3. Misuse of inside information: Policy position paper

Policy

Misuse of inside information: Policy position paper

This document sets out the Gambling Commission’s approach to dealing with potential incidents of misuse of inside information in betting (June 2025).

Published
16 December 2025

Last updated
16 December 2025 - Changes

Document actions
Print or save (opens in new tab)

Contents

Key points relating to Sports Governing Bodies

All Sports Governing Bodies (SGBs)2 are encouraged to include within their rules clauses relating to the misuse of inside information. These can be tailored to their sport and participants (in line with Data Protection Act 2018).

It is suggested that the following points are considered for inclusion in the rules, policies, and education programmes of SGBs:

  • policies and guidance on the use of social media and the associated risks of participants releasing information
  • prohibition of the release of information for reward or gain (by the participant or their associates), including careless or reckless release of information
  • address the issue of participants placing bets via agents or third parties
  • clear policies on potential enforcement action that may be taken against a participant if it is suspected they are in breach of the rules, including a clause that participants will be asked to produce records of betting activity if they are subject to investigations where a breach of sports rules is suspected
  • the range of sanctions that may be applied if participants are found to in breach of the rules
  • education strategies and enforcement capabilities to support the rules. We suggest that programmes include elements to help participants understand the reputational risks associated with inside information being used for betting purposes and along with risks of breaching SGB rules.

References

2 In many sports, betting by all key participants is prohibited. Horse-racing (and to a certain extent greyhound racing) is the exception; whilst jockeys are not permitted to bet on British horseracing at all, a number of participants (such as owners) may bet on their horses or dogs to win, but not lay to lose. The racing industry has much more mature betting products than other sports and long-established practices whereby in certain circumstances the use of inside information is acceptable. We will continue to engage with the British Horseracing Authority and the Greyhound Board of Great Britain to enable transparency, fairness, and openness on betting on these sports.

Previous section
Key points - Misuse of inside information Next section
Key points relating to betting operators - Misuse of inside information
Is this page useful?
Back to top