Taxpayer Funding to Play Computer Games

Summary

The request sought all records regarding the sponsorship of X7 Esports by the Digital Isle of Man, including contracts, financial records, and correspondence. The Department for Enterprise disclosed all information, providing a timeline of 27 items covering the proposal, board approval, conflict of interest declarations, and contract finalization.

Key Facts

• The Digital Isle of Man Board approved the sponsorship of X7 Esports on 2021-05-25.
• Mark Lewin declared a conflict of interest due to a family connection and recused himself from discussions.
• The sponsorship agreement required Ministerial sign-off via the MIF (Manx Investment Fund) bid process.
• Correspondence included emails, LinkedIn messages, and documents such as branded jersey designs and PR materials.
• The final contract was sent by X7 on 2021-06-07 and reviewed by Marketing for KPIs and deliverables.

Data Disclosed

• 2021-04-29
• 2021-05-25
• 2021-06-07
• 2021-06-10
• 27 items
• 4 pages
• 2 documents

Original Request

Hi, I request all records of the sponsorship of X7 Esports. By "all records" I mean as defined in the Freedom of Information Act. This should include (but not be limited to) the contract, financial records, and correspondence (both internal and external) with X7 Esports. I remind the department that the Freedom of Information Act defines records in a way that should include (but not be limited to) video or audio recordings of meetings (if such records exist) and should include (but not be limited to) records of communication via non-traditional means (including, but not be limited to, email, WhatsApp messages, Telegram messages, Discord messages, or messages on any other communication channel considered formal or informal). By "sponsorship of X7 Esports" I mean the agreement referred to online here: https://www.digitalisleofman.com/news/digital-isle-of-man-sponsor-x7/

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

Abbreviations: DIOM - Digital isle of Man, LW - Lyle Wraxall, AK - Abby Kimber, PA - Phil Adcock, JK - Josh Kingett, LD- Lawrence Dick Ref No Item's Date Originator Recipient Description Type 1 2021-04-29 Phil Adcock Lyle Wraxall X7 approached PA about whether DIOM would like to sponsor them Email 2 2021-04-29 Lyle Wraxall Phil Adcock LW shared his opinion that it might be a good idea but that it would need to be considered and approved by the board in order to move forward Email 3 2021-05-03 Mark Lewin Phil Adcock, Lyle Wraxall ML declared a conflict of interest, due to a family connection, to ensure he will not be participating in any discussions related to the matter Email 4 2021-05-03 Phil Adcock Mark Lewin, Lyle Wraxall PA acknowledged receiving the declaration of the COI. Email 5 2021-05-04 Josh Kingett Chris Kissack LinkedIn message from JK to CK around progress in getting an initial meeting set up and opportunities locally LinkedIn message 6 2021-05-18 Josh Kingett Lyle Wraxall, Phil Adcock, Abby Kimber Follow up on proposal and asking if any further info was needed Email 7 2021-05-18 Josh Kingett Chris Kissack Conversation with CK around timeline and board proposal LinkedIn message 8 2021-05-24 DIOM Secretariat Board X7 Sponsorship Decision Paper for the Board was created by AK and circulated to the Board by DIOM Secretariat Email, Paper 9 2021-05-25 Lyle Wraxall Digital Board Paper was presented and discussed at Digital Isle of Man Board Minutes, CUT-up 10 2021-05-26 Abby Kimber X7 Emailed JK informing him that the Digital Board had approved the proposed sponsorship of X7 and that internal processes to secure funds would need to be followed prior to organising payment Email 11 2021-05-27 DIOM Secretariat Dfe Dep Meeting The X7 Paper, Approved by the Digital Board, was submitted to the Department Meeting for noting, mentioning the COI that the DfE CEO declared. Email 12 2021-05-27 Josh Kingett AK, LW, CK X7 provided DIOM with 2 examples of branded jersey designs to discuss. Email, Logos (JPG) 13 2021-05-27 Abby Kimber CD, LD, LW, CK AK was in touch with DIOM marketing to arrange a meeting to discuss an X7 sponsorship action plan to put together to maximise awareness and ensure all parties are clear on their roles/responsibilities/action points. Email 14 2021-06-01 Josh Kingett Chris Kissack Conversation around update on timeline following board approval LinkedIn message 15 2021-06-01 DIOM Secretariat MIF Portal A MIF BID was submitted for approval Copy of Bid 16 2021-06-02 Josh Kingett Chris Kissack Conversation around contract, payment and PR/announcement timeline LinkedIn message 17 2021-06-02 Abby Kimber CD, LD, LW, CK AK created a deliverables & responsibilities list in relation to: Stakeholder management, Payments, Brand Guidelines/Tone of Voice document for X7, Interaction Guide for DIOM(/IOM Business community, Marketing (press-release), Social Media takeover Email 18 2021-06-03 Abby Kimber DIOM Secretariat AK requested an invoice to be prepped for payment once financial processes had been completed and a code set up Email, Invoice 19 2021-06-04 Marketing LW Marketing sent the final copies of PR’s for X7 announcement for feedback; will also send them both to Amber to approve their quotes again as we have tweaked it slightly Email +2 Word documents 20 2021-06-07 Marketing LW, AK, CK Marketing confirmed PR's sign off and said it will be distributed once MIF is completed and have the sponsorship contract Email 21 2021-06-07 Abby Kimber CK, Marketing Further discussion on IOM Pointers, this is a guide for X7, it is to be aimed to providing them with information on the Isle of Man Email 22 2021-06-07 X7 DIOM X7 sent the contract to sign. Email, contract 23 2021-06-08 Marketing LW, AK Marketing added some comments to the contract in relation to KPIs/frequencies against ours and X7 social/ours and X7 content/educational and business appearances. Email, edited Contract 24 2021-06-08 Chris Kissack LW, AK, marketing CK circulated updated deliverables discussed and agreed in the kick-off meeting Email, 2 Word files 25 2021-06-10 DIOM Secretariat DfE Secretariat Request for MIF sign off from Deputy CEO was submitted Email 26 2021-06-10 DfE Secretariat DIOM Secretariat Minister's sign off for the MIF bid received. Email 27 2021-06-10 FRE Portal DIOM Secretariat, LW Confirmation received that financial regulation governance complete Email The below table provides a timeline of all records pertaining to the sponsorship of X7 Esports. Each item described in this table has a corresponding numbered record in the associated zip file unless a webpage is referenced directly in the description. 28 2021-06-10 DfE Secretariat LW X7 Sponsorship paper was reviewed and noted at the Department Meeting held on 9 June 2021 Email 29 2021-06-10 X7, DIOM X7, DIOM Contract is signed by both parties Signed PDF 30 2021-06-11 MIF Portal DIOM Secretariat MIF BID titled "X7 Org Sponsorship" formally approved through online portal with the value of £10,000.00 Email 31 2021-06-15 DIOM Website Press-release is published on the DIOM Website: https://www.digitalisleofman.com/news/digital-isle-of-man-sponsor-x7/ Web link 32 2021-06-15 Lyle Wraxall, Abby Kimber DIOM Secretariat Authorised the invoice for payment Email 33 2021-06-15 Marketing LW, CK A list of links announcing the sponsorship was shared by Marketing (Esports News UK, Dexerto, Invision community, AYO.News, European Gaming, Affiliate Insider, Esports Insider) Email 34 2021-06-18 Josh Kingett Chris Kissack Further chase around payment of invoice LinkedIn message 35 2021-06-18 Abby Kimber Josh Kingett Email chain re set up of payment and need to follow Government processes correctly Email 36 2021-06-29 Chris Kissack Lyle Wraxall Update from CK re enquires received following sponsorship Email 37 2021-08-31 X7 LW, CK Quote request for X7 presentation Email 38 2021-10-29 X7 LW, AK, NL Acquisition info received from X7 for social posts Email, + jpg 39 2021-11-01 X7 LW, AK, NL, LD Info re pushing back announcement Email 40 2022-01-27 LS LW, AK X7 Cover Letter for the Board and X7 update paper Paper 41 2022-02-01 Lee Hills DIOM Board Advance feedback on X7 update submitted by Board member Email, attachment 42 2022-02-03 LW, LS DIOM Board Minutes cut-up in reference to X7 update from February Digital Isle of Man Board Minutes cut-up

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator 1st Floor, St Georges Court Upper Church Street, Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1EX

Telephone: (01624 685375) Website: www.gov.im/ded Email: dfe-dpo @gov.im

Our ref: 2284081 11 March 2022

Re: Request under the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (“the act”)

Dear ####

We write further to your request which was received on 11 February 2022 and which states:

“Hi,

I request all records of the sponsorship of X7 Esports.

By “all records” I mean as defined in the Freedom of Information Act. This should include (but not be limited to) the contract, financial records, and correspondence (both internal and external) with X7 Esports. I remind the Department that the Freedom of Information Act defines records in a way that should include (but not be limited to) video or audio recording of meetings (if such records exist) and should include (but not be limited to) records of communication via non-traditional means (including, but not limited to, email WhatsApp messages, Telegram messages, Discord messages, or messages on any other communication channel considered formal or informal).

By “sponsorship of X7 Esports” I mean the agreement referred to online here:
https://www.digitalisleofman.com/news/digital-isle-of-man-sponsor-x7/”

Our Response:

I have attached copies of the information south; in order to collate the information which the Department holds we have copied it into a single .XLS document converted to PDF. There is an additional zip file containing PDF documents numbered 01-42 which correlate with the numbered sections on the main document.

Should you require the information in an alternative format then please do let me know.

Please quote the reference number 2259829 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely,

Data Protection Officer Strategy & Policy Governance Team