Regulator of the National Lottery - Publishing accessible data to promote trust in regulation
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Ó: An Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí, Seachadta ar an bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta, agus Athchóirithe
- Foilsithe: 9 Meán Fómhair 2014
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 25 Meán Fómhair 2024
In Autumn 2023, the Regulator of the National Lottery launched a new website with the main objective of making information and data about the National Lottery and its regulation much more accessible and compelling for stakeholders - to build trust.
This was achieved by publishing useful data in a variety of formats, with an intuitive website layout that’s easy to navigate, that uses plain English, and strategic choice of what areas of information to promote.
The Regulator on how the new website was designed and developed:
What were the Regulator's main objectives for the new website?
Trust is core to the success of a State lottery.
We aimed to create a harder working website as a first resource that demonstrates our commitment to transparency and accountability. We wanted an accessible website that promotes the quality, expertise and success of the work of the Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery.
What did the website revamp involve?
By creating a modern design and simplifying navigation, we made it easier for visitors to find information quickly and intuitively.
We expanded and gave prominence to areas that our stakeholders said they wanted to hear more about.
We added new data features by creating tables, graphs, charts, timelines and infographics showing trends or activity over time. Most of this information was previously published but it now has more prominence and context. New metrics were added by establishing what further information the Regulator was entitled to put into the public domain.
Our website took nine months to complete and launch.
How does publishing this data build trust with stakeholders?
By publishing the Operator’s data, the Regulator is demonstrating in more detail how the regulated entity is held to account and where regulation is delivering results. A lack of published data means that stakeholders have to rely on impressions of the Regulator’s activities and effectiveness. As data is a form of evidence, all stakeholders can see firsthand how the Operator is performing and how performance is measured by the Regulator.
Making a range of key data points available online, in an accessible manner, builds trust that the National Lottery is regulated to precise and appropriate standards across its operations.
What does the website offer that it didn’t before?
The website is easy to understand and much more informative. Information is available in a variety of formats (verbal, graphical, numerical) and visitors don’t have to trawl through pdfs. Key information on how we hold the Operator to account and protect players - and the demonstrable outputs - is to the forefront of the website.
This has demonstrated the strength of the Regulator of the National Lottery’s commitment to transparency and accountability and the strong track record of the regulation of the National Lottery, 10 years into the 20 year licence. In this way, the new website supports greater levels of assurance among stakeholders.
What new performance metrics for the National Lottery Operator are now accessible and how are they presented?
Performance metrics for the National Lottery Operator have always been published in our annual reports. We created a new Operator Performance Metrics webpage, by bringing together some of the key information that demonstrates the level of compliance required of the Operator and displayed these in easy to read infographics.
What learnings have the team gained by implementing the project?
The Operator of the National Lottery, as a private company, is entitled to a degree of commercial confidentiality. The Regulator is obliged to maintain this confidentiality while at the same time demonstrate to stakeholders that the National Lottery is well regulated and trustworthy.
We have learned that it is possible to achieve greater levels of assurance for stakeholders by presenting the information and figures that can be made public via our website in an accessible manner and giving prominence to those areas of most interest to key stakeholders.