UKGC calls for accurate reporting of GSGB data

The UK Gambling Commission has urged the data contained in its upcoming Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) release to be used “accurately” and not to be taken out of context.

The UK gambling regulator is set to publish the first annual report of its new GSGB survey this week. The GSGB, it is hoped, will provide better and more detailed data about the industry while also making data collection easier.

In August last year, UKGC chief executive Andrew Rhodes railed against the “wholly unacceptable” misuse of data by “multiple individuals and organisations,” including trade bodies and media outlets, to “create an inaccurate picture.”

Two waves of GSGB data have already been released by the UKGC, but the first annual report is expected to offer more detail and give a wider picture. Ahead of the release, the regulator has insisted data must be used accurately.

“We encourage people to use our statistics to support understanding of important issues related to gambling,” a statement read.

“We expect that anyone using our official statistics should present the data accurately and in accordance with the guidelines presented here.

This includes ensuring that the data is not taken out of context, manipulated or presented in a way that could materially mislead others.

“We have set out further information on the action we will take if we spot misuse of official statistics.”

The guidelines presented by the UKGC include that the GSGB can be used to look at patterns within the data among different demographic groups and provide estimates of gambling participation among adults.

“Due to differences in the way data for the GSGB is collected in comparison to prior gambling or health surveys, the GSGB is not directly comparable with results from previous surveys and direct comparisons should not be used to assess trends over time,” the Gambling Commission said.

“That said, some limited comparisons are useful to assess differences between study methodologies. All surveys are subject to a range of potential biases which may affect results. The GSGB, the prior health surveys and gambling surveys are no different.”