Gambling Supervision Commission
10 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 100.0%
The Freedom of Information requests directed at the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) reveal an authority in transition, grappling with both emerging regulatory frontiers and internal governance challenges. A significant portion of the data highlights the GSC's tentative entry into the medicinal cannabis market; while the Commission confirmed receiving applications (Case 1931357), it has issued zero licences to date (Case 2257997) and explicitly distances itself from criminal enforcement data (Case 2014925). This suggests a regulatory framework that is established in theory but inactive in practice, or perhaps overly cautious in its execution. Simultaneously, the GSC's handling of employment disputes shows a marked evolution, with a formal settlement policy only commencing in mid-2024 (Case 5159989) after years of silence on such agreements (Case 4339703). The release of previously withheld responses concerning abusive language (Case 2620413) further indicates a history of internal friction that the Commission is only now beginning to address transparently.
Key Cases
Case 5159989 — This case is critical as it reveals a significant policy shift: the GSC only began issuing settlement agreements in June 2024, implying a lack of formal resolution mechanisms for staff disputes for the preceding three years, while also clarifying that warning notices remain private.
Case 2620413 — Highly notable for its meta-transparency; the GSC released redacted copies of previously withheld FOI responses, admitting they were hidden due to 'abusive language' and focus on a specific employee, which exposes internal culture issues.
Case 1931357 — This case marks the entry of the GSC into the medicinal cannabis sector, confirming the receipt of applications but a total lack of issued licences to date, signaling a cautious or stalled regulatory approach to this new industry.
Case 4649317 — Provides concrete evidence of the Commission's operational efficiency by disclosing specific average processing times for gambling licences, a key metric for industry stakeholders and regulators.
Case 353921 — Illustrates the limits of financial transparency; while travel data was released, the refusal to provide beverage information due to 'lack of records' suggests gaps in the Commission's internal expense tracking systems.
Related FOI Stories
Medicinal Cannabis Licensing & Enforcement — #1931357, #2014925, #2257997
Employment Settlements and Internal Governance — #4339703, #5159989, #2620413
Financial Transparency and Travel Expenditure — #358487, #353921, #353923, #356079
Regulatory Efficiency and Data Availability — #4649317, #4970415, #624569
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-10 | Settlement Agreements and Warning Notices over 5 year period | All information sent |
| The request sought statistics on settlement agreements and warning notices issued by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission between 2020 and 2025, including role breakdowns and publication policies. The authority disclosed that its settlement policy only began in June 2024, providing data for 2024 and 2025 while clarifying that warning notices are private matters not subject to public registers. | ||
| 2025-05-12 | Licence Application Process Time | All information sent |
| The request sought average processing times for three types of gambling licences over the last 18 months, and the Gambling Supervision Commission disclosed specific statistics for both approval and final issuance dates. | ||
| 2024-12-31 | Settlement Agreements | All information sent |
| The requester asked for statistics and a template regarding employment settlement agreements issued by the Gambling Supervision Commission since September 2021. The authority responded that no such agreements were issued during that period and no template is held on file. | ||
| 2022-11-14 | Internet cameras | All information sent |
| 2022-09-09 | Unpublished Responses to FOIA Requests | All information sent |
| The requester asked for unpublished Freedom of Information Act 2015 responses from the Gambling Supervision Commission since the Act's introduction. The Commission disclosed redacted copies of three previously unpublished responses that were withheld due to their focus on a specific employee and the use of abusive language. | ||
| 2022-02-10 | Cannabis licences | All information sent |
| The requester asked the Gambling Supervision Commission for the number and types of medicinal cannabis export licences issued. The authority confirmed that to date, no licences have been issued whatsoever. | ||
| 2021-08-02 | Cannabis Licences | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of cannabis licence applications received and issued, along with a breakdown by licence type. The Gambling Supervision Commission disclosed that four applications had been received since June 2021, but no licences had been issued to date. | ||
| 2018-10-16 | Breakdown of Gambling Commission Disputes | All information sent |
| A requester asked the Gambling Supervision Commission for statistical summaries of disputes regarding fairness, protecting the young, and excluding crime for the last twelve months. The Commission responded by confirming receipt and stating that all requested information was sent. | ||
| 2018-01-17 | Conference attendance | All information sent |
| The request sought details on Gambling Supervision Commission staff attending the ICE Exhibition, including hotel bookings and room types. The authority disclosed that four staff members attended, provided no civil servants were present, and listed specific accommodation details for each attendee. | ||
| 2017-11-16 | Request for travel expenses detail | All information sent |
| The Gambling Supervision Commission disclosed all requested travel expense details for Commissioners and officers covering a three-year period from November 2014 to November 2017. The response included breakdowns of costs for flights, hotels, conference fees, and expenses for each trip. | ||