UK sports bookmaker Ladbrokes may be subject to an investigation by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) following the reported leak of customer information outside one of its branches in Glasgow.
Confidential information about betting addicts including names, addresses and photos were discovered in a dustbin bag on a street outside the bookmakers shop by a passer-by.
Data recovered included personal details of customers who signed up for the UKGC’s multi-operator self-exclusion scheme (Moses), which allows problem gamblers and vulnerable individuals to voluntarily ban themselves from from all premises offering gambling in their respective areas.
Under the terms of the scheme, bookmakers carry information about individuals who sign to help shop staff to identify customers prohibited from betting.
Ladbrokes have not confirmed how the information ended up outside the bookmakers, however a spokesperson told the Guardian newspaper that: “We are taking this extremely seriously and [are] undertaking a full investigation.”
In the wake of the breach, Ladbrokes is understood to have written to all of its shops reminding them of the need to dispose of sensitive information in the right way as set out in current data protection legislation.
Tim Miller, UK Gambling Commission Executive Director said: “Customers trust that their personal data will be collected carefully and then protected properly,”
“We expect gambling operators to adhere to all data protection laws or regulations, which are enforced by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
“In an instance where personal data has been breached, we would expect operators to do whatever they can to mitigate any harm caused.”
Ladbrokes have confirmed that a full internal investigation into the breach is underway.
