● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 negative
Study Alleges Widespread GDPR Non-Compliance by UK Online Gambling Sites
Key points
- 86% of UK gambling sites show GDPR non-compliance.
- 24% of sites did not offer an option to disable tracking software.
- Two-thirds of operators collected user data before consent.
- Many sites use 'dark patterns' to encourage data sharing.
GDPR Violations in Online Gambling
A recent study has accused online bookmakers and casinos in the UK of widespread non-compliance with information privacy requirements, specifically concerning the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The research indicates that nearly nine out of ten (86%) licensed British gambling websites appear to be flouting the strict rules governing personal data collection, storage, and processing.
Cookie Banner Non-Compliance
The findings primarily relate to the 'cookie' banners presented to users upon their first visit to a website, which request consent for information sharing. While the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has been working to enforce GDPR compliance for these banners across the top 1,000 UK websites, the study by Swansea University's GREAT Centre suggests that the gambling industry significantly lags in adherence.
Tracking and Data Collection Issues
The study revealed that 24% of 624 tested gambling websites did not provide an option to disable tracking software, which allows advertisers to target users with tailored marketing. Furthermore, two-thirds of operators, including well-known names like Ladbrokes and William Hill, began collecting user data before obtaining consent. Although some data collection can be legitimate (e.g., verifying user location), researchers found this data was often sent to third-party analytics platforms for marketing purposes. Additionally, 2% of sites offered no consent choice at all.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
A study by Swansea University's GREAT Centre found that 86% of licensed British gambling websites appear to violate GDPR rules regarding cookie banners and data collection. This research indicates that online bookmakers and casinos are lagging behind other industries in adhering to data privacy regulations, despite ongoing efforts by the Information Commissioner's Office to enforce compliance.