Official regulatory body • Gambling Commission subsidiary
BGS
BeGambleAwareSlots
Content oversight since 2024
Home Report Violation
Official notification mechanism

Report a regulatory violation

Formal mechanism for notifying BeGamblewareSlots of suspected violations of UK gambling content regulations under the Gambling Act 2005 and associated statutory instruments.

Protected reporting:
Confidentiality protections under Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
UK GDPR compliant data processing for regulatory purposes
Due process guarantees for both complainant and respondent
Transparent investigation procedures and timelines
Submit violation report
2024 Reporting Statistics:
1,247
Reports received YTD
19
Average days to outcome
68%
Violations confirmed
34%
Referred to Commission
Violation classification

Violation categories by severity

Three-tier classification system determining investigation priority and procedural response

Category A: Critical Violations

Immediate harm risk • Expedited investigation • 7-14 working days
Examples of Category A violations:
Unlicensed operator promotion
Systematic promotion of operators without valid UK Gambling Commission licence
Legal basis: Gambling Act 2005 Section 33
Under-18 targeting
Content designed to appeal to children or minors through imagery, language, or platform selection
Legal basis: LCCP 5.1.1, CAP Code 16.3.13
Fraudulent practices
Intentional misrepresentation of terms, rigged demonstrations, or deceptive promotional practices
Legal basis: Fraud Act 2006, Consumer Protection Regs 2008
Investigation response:
Immediate triage
Priority assessment within 24-48 hours of receipt
Expedited investigation
7-14 working day investigation with dual verification
Direct escalation
Automatic referral to Gambling Commission for enforcement consideration
Immediate publication
Register of Violations listing without remediation opportunity
Platform notification
Alert issued to search engines and hosting platforms

Category B: Serious Violations

Regulatory breach • Standard investigation • 21-28 working days
Examples of Category B violations:
Missing age verification
Absence of prominent 18+ warnings or age gates on gambling content
Legal basis: LCCP 5.1.2
Inadequate affiliate disclosure
Unclear, hidden, or misleading commercial relationship statements
Legal basis: Consumer Protection Regs 2008, FCA Consumer Duty
Bonus term misrepresentation
Inaccurate or misleading presentation of wagering requirements or restrictions
Legal basis: CAP Code 16.1, 16.3.9
Absent responsible gambling information
Missing or inadequate links to BeGambleAware, GamCare, or GAMSTOP
Legal basis: CAP Code 16.3.12, LCCP 3.4.3
Investigation response:
Standard investigation
21-28 working day comprehensive assessment
Respondent notification
14-day window to provide counter-evidence or remediation plan
Referral consideration
Assessment for Gambling Commission or ASA referral based on severity
Public register
Register of Violations listing if violation confirmed post-response period

Category C: Administrative Violations

Technical non-compliance • Remediation offered • 28-35 working days
Examples of Category C violations:
Disclosure formatting issues
Disclosure present but not prominently displayed or insufficient contrast ratio
Broken support service links
Dead links to BeGambleAware or other support services due to technical error
Minor T&Cs inconsistencies
Small discrepancies in bonus terms that do not materially mislead consumers
Outdated operator information
Recently expired promotions or operator details awaiting quarterly update
Investigation response:
Extended assessment
28-35 working day investigation with remediation opportunity
Remediation notice
14-day period to correct identified issues before determination
Guidance provision
Templates and best practice guidance provided to assist remediation
No public listing
If remediated within 14 days, no Register of Violations entry
Procedural transparency

Investigation process and timelines

Standardized procedure ensuring due process for all parties and transparent determination

1
Receipt
24-48 hours
2
Triage
5-7 days
3
Investigation
14-28 days
4
Response
14 days
5
Determination
7 days
6
Publication
2-3 days
7
Referral
If required

Complainant rights

Confidentiality protection under Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
Unique case reference number (BGS-2025-XXXXXX)
Email status updates at key investigation milestones (if provided)
Right to provide supplementary evidence during investigation
Access to determination letter via secure case portal
Protection from retaliation (whistleblower provisions)

Respondent rights

Notification of complaint with specific allegations detailed
14-day response period to provide counter-evidence or remediation
Access to evidence supporting complaint (redacted if confidential)
Right to legal representation during investigation
Appeal mechanism to Independent Advisory Board (28 days post-determination)
Remediation opportunity (Category C violations)

Possible outcomes

No case to answer
Insufficient evidence or no violation found. Case closed with no further action.
Remediation offered
Minor violation identified. 14-day correction period before re-assessment.
Violation confirmed
Listed in Register of Violations. Affiliate partnerships may be terminated.
External referral
Referred to Gambling Commission, ASA, or other authority for enforcement.
Official submission

Submit violation report

Formal notification of suspected regulatory violation

1
Violation Type
2
Evidence
3
Contact
4
Details
5
Submit

Step 1: Violation Type

Include full URL including https://

Step 2: Evidence Upload

Evidence requirements: Screenshots with timestamp, video recordings, archive.org captures, or detailed written description. Maximum 50MB total. Formats: PDF, PNG, JPG, MP4, ZIP.
Google Drive, Dropbox, or Archive.org links accepted

Step 3: Contact Information

Anonymous reporting: You may submit anonymously, however named reports receive priority processing and status updates. Your identity will remain confidential and protected under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
Required for case tracking and status updates
Voluntary disclosure demonstrates good faith and may expedite remediation

Step 4: Additional Details

Step 5: Review and Submit

Legal declarations

Data Protection Rights: You have the right to access, rectification, and erasure of your personal data, subject to DPA 2018 Schedule 2 limitations for regulatory purposes. To exercise these rights, contact [email protected]
What happens next: You will receive an email acknowledgement within 24-48 hours containing your unique case reference number (BGS-2025-XXXXXX). Investigation timelines: Category A (7-14 days), Category B (21-28 days), Category C (28-35 days).
reCAPTCHA verification
(reCAPTCHA would be implemented here in production)
Case status portal

Track your report

Monitor investigation progress using your case reference number

Format: BGS-2025-XXXXXX (provided in acknowledgement email)
Note: Anonymous reports cannot be tracked. Case tracking only available for named submissions.

Alternative reporting routes

Some violations fall under the jurisdiction of other regulatory bodies

Gambling Commission

When to use: Direct operator violations, licensing issues, criminal activity
Visit reporting page

ASA

When to use: Broadcast advertising, TV/radio gambling ads
Make complaint

ICO

When to use: Data protection breaches, GDPR violations
Report concern

Action Fraud

When to use: Suspected fraud, scams, criminal activity
Report fraud

CMA

When to use: Consumer protection law violations, systematic misleading
Contact CMA

Platform Reporting

When to use: Terms of Service violations on YouTube, Google, Meta platforms
Use platform-specific reporting tools

Frequently asked questions

What protection do I have as a whistleblower?
Whistleblowers making disclosures in the public interest are protected under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. Your identity will remain confidential unless you consent to disclosure. You are protected from detriment or dismissal if reporting in good faith. For industry insiders, additional protections prevent retaliation from employers.
What happens if my report is found to be false?
Good faith reports that prove unfounded result in no action against the complainant. However, knowingly providing false or misleading information may constitute an offence under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 and could result in prosecution. Vexatious or malicious reports may also give rise to civil liability for damages to the respondent.
Can I report anonymously?
Yes. Anonymous reports are accepted but receive lower priority processing and require more substantial evidence. You will not receive status updates or be able to track your case. Named reports receive priority processing, email updates, and higher evidentiary weight. Your identity remains confidential even in named reports.
How long does an investigation take?
Investigation timelines vary by violation category: Category A (Critical) - 7-14 working days expedited investigation. Category B (Serious) - 21-28 working days standard investigation. Category C (Administrative) - 28-35 working days including remediation opportunity. Timelines include respondent notice period and determination.
Will the website owner know I reported them?
The respondent will be notified of the complaint and provided with evidence (redacted to protect complainant identity). Your personal information will not be disclosed unless you explicitly consent or legal obligation requires disclosure. Whistleblower protections prevent identification in public documentation.
Can the respondent appeal the determination?
Yes. Respondents have 28 days from determination notification to lodge an appeal with our Independent Advisory Board. Appeals are reviewed by former Gambling Commission executives and public health experts. Appeal reviews typically complete within 14 working days. Full appeals procedure available on request.