UK Gaming Groups Got Access to Educational Database

This story was published more than 4 years ago.

This week it was revealed that gambling firms gained access to an educational database in the UK, which provided records of 28 million children to the companies.

The companies accessed the Learning Records Service database by using firm GB Group. The company used its relationship with Trustopia to get access to the information and then provided the data to their casino clients. Those casino companies then took information and ran it through their customer databases to weed out underage players. It's believed that the database included names, addresses, and ages of school-age children within the country.

The accessing of the data by Trustopia broke the agreement that they had with the UK Department of Education, and the department has cut all ties with the company.

Security analyst Javvad Malik was stunned at the leak, noting: "This is perhaps the largest government data breach and will have far-reaching consequences for many years to come as betting companies and intermediaries have gained access to schoolchildren's data which they hope to be able to monetize in order to attract future generations to gambling.

"This is not just a security breach, but a breach of trust, where there is an expectation of fair, lawful and transparent uses of the data by everyone who has access to it - which in this case has not happened," said Malik. "In all of this, the responsibility sits squarely with the Department on Education, which has collected vast amounts of children's data for nearly a decade with apparently little oversight."

About the author

Therese Williams // UK Correspondent
Therese Williams
Therese is a fervent fan of slot machines and pub fruities, often trying her luck at some of the top online casinos. She covers news for Casino Listings with a focus on the UK and Europe. Therese studied arts and creative writing at university and has written for newspapers in the UK.
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usbarbadosslim93
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21 January 2020 - 5:41pm
#1

That's pretty crazy stuff. I'm sure there's going to be hell to pay for the companies involved. Trustopedia is likely to face the worst of the wrath, and rightfully so.

sharpe

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23 January 2020 - 3:16am
#2

This is all very stupid, all around. If the aim was to exclude under-age gamblers I can't understand how the data would have helped much. Anyone who is gambling underage would be doing so by using fake or stolen identification and/or falsified information. Presumably some supposed bright spark thought it would be a good idea but really it would be of little value.

On the other hand without any evidence to back up what he is saying about it being a targeted campaign to gain marketing information, I'll regard the quotes from "security analyst" Javvad Malik as the ignorant load of conspiracy theorist bollocks they appear to be. Hanlon's razor: never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity.

sharpe

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krcoolsongss
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23 January 2020 - 1:41pm
#3

I think that UK data firm is very clever to use the important personal data to make money. They did something extraordinary from Facebook some years ago 😀 They are smart to do anything to make money without business ethics.

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25 January 2020 - 7:26pm
#4
Quote:

I think that UK data firm is very clever to use the important personal data to make money. They did something extraordinary from Facebook some years ago 😀 They are smart to do anything to make money without business ethics.

I don't how that's so clever..but definitely should be illegal!

Quote:

This is all very stupid, all around. If the aim was to exclude under-age gamblers I can't understand how the data would have helped much.

Yeah..bulshit...can I have your ID docs info in case you'd ever need me..!?!

Quote:

On the other hand without any evidence to back up what he is saying about it being a targeted campaign to gain marketing information, I'll regard the quotes from "security analyst" Javvad Malik as the ignorant load of conspiracy theorist bollocks they appear to be.

And that's in the other extreme really...but whatever the truth is (probably somewhere in the middle as usual) the gambling firms shouldn't be able to gain that info...not in a legal way anyway.

Quote:

Hanlon's razor: never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity.

Why I have the feeling that I've heard that before...🤔

frjani_linger21
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29 January 2020 - 10:04am
#5
coolsongss wrote:

I think that UK data firm is very clever to use the important personal data to make money. They did something extraordinary from Facebook some years ago 😀 They are smart to do anything to make money without business ethics.

I don't think so, it's more like leaking of personal information and for what purpose? weird 😒

caWaroftheGods
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29 January 2020 - 11:27am
#6
coolsongss wrote:

I think that UK data firm is very clever to use the important personal data to make money. They did something extraordinary from Facebook some years ago 😀 They are smart to do anything to make money without business ethics.

I would have to disagree with you on this one my friend. If this were my childrens personal info that was involved, I would be pissed. These guys or company just angered a nation of parents, I'd say that is far from clever, and maybe closer to the intelligence of, let's say , a hockey puck.

2 sharpe, jani_linger21

usbarbadosslim93
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30 January 2020 - 2:52pm
#7

Hey now, WaroftheGods, let's not give hockey pucks a bad name!

caWaroftheGods
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30 January 2020 - 3:01pm
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barbadosslim93 wrote:

Hey now, WaroftheGods, let's not give hockey pucks a bad name!

Lol you raise a good point there Slim. I think they were trying to think outside of the box. In doing so they made a stupid decision while at the same time trying not to be stupid lol