UK Gambling Commission Banking Data Study Finds Illegal Gambling Supplements Licensed Activity
A UK Gambling Commission study using Open Banking data finds illegal gambling supplements rather than replaces licensed activity and correlates with higher problem gambling risk.Summary
The UK Gambling Commission has published a technical report using anonymised Open Banking transaction data to examine how consumers in Great Britain interact with unlicensed gambling operators. The research shows no notable decline in legal gambling transactions after individuals are first detected using illegal operators, indicating that illegal gambling functions as a supplement rather than a substitute for licensed activity. The study links these transaction patterns to Problem Gambling Severity Index scores, finding that consumers who engage with illegal operators are more likely to fall into moderate-risk and problem gambling categories than those who use only licensed firms, with the relative sizes of these PGSI categories reversed compared with the broader population of licensed gamblers. Postdoctoral Data Scientist Steven Murphy authored the report and noted that the unique cross-operator dataset allows linkage to survey results on harms in the context of actual financial activity. The regulator described the project as a powerful proof of concept for financial transaction data. The report acknowledges several caveats: some transactions with unlicensed operators may go undetected, and the dataset, though large, is not nationally representative. These constraints limit the breadth of insight while still allowing meaningful observation of consumer behaviour. Murphy stated that the work represents a meaningful contribution to the evidence base on illegal gambling that could not be realised from any other evidence source. The Commission plans to expand its use of financial transaction data and remains open to collaborations with banks, payment providers and other stakeholders to support safe, fair and crime-free gambling.
(Source：Sccg Management)