UKGC extends research consultation until the end of February

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has extended the consultation phase of its feedback on its research methodologies with regards to gambling participation and how problem gambling prevalence is measured across the country.    

The consultation, which was originally due to close on 12 February, has been extended by a further two-weeks to Friday 26 February. It will give respondents more time to participate in what is considered to be a critical area of the government’s review of the 2005 Gambling Act.

As previously stated, the regulator was ordered to review its research methodologies to provide the government and UK health services with the most accurate data on gambling participation and further insights on elements influencing problem gambling.

Feedback will help the Commission review how it gathers data and promotes statistics on UK gambling participation and problem gambling which, to date, has been compiled in accordance with the government’s ‘Statistical Service in the Code of Practice for Statistics’.   

The need for ‘reliable facts’ on problem gambling statistics was cited as an urgent requirement of the government’s gambling review by the select committees’ of Lord Grade and Lord Foster.

A significant area of concern, public feedback on research methodologies runs alongside key consultations on gambling affordability measures, safer gambling interactions and operators’ additional customer care duties and controls.