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According to UKGC CEO, Andrew Rhodes, there has been a considerable increase in enforcement proceedings against unregistered companies. Speaking at ICE Barcelona, he highlighted the regulator’s effectiveness in shutting down illicit gaming sites. Rhodes said they had prevented 264 gambling websites without a license from operating in the current financial year, which began in April 2024. This remarkable growth is more than 1,000 percent compared to the previous year.
Furthermore, Rhodes pointed out that the UKGC is working with Google, a large technology company, to address unlawful gaming operations. The partnership has led to the regulator providing Google with over 102,000 URLs related to unlawful gambling, resulting in the takedown of 64,000 of these implicated sites. Furthermore, the UKGC has issued more than 770 cease-and-desist orders and disruption letters, with 262 targeting operators and 205 aimed at advertising.
Targeting Illegal Activity at the Source
Rhodes explained that the UKGC’s strategy involves targeting illegal operations as far “upstream” as possible by engaging with hosts, payment providers, software developers, and search engines.
“We aim to prevent the illegal market from operating at scale in Great Britain. A significant part of our strategy is to target our efforts as far upstream as we can – at the level of hosts, payment providers, software providers, search engines, and others,” Rhodes said.
He also emphasized the importance of expanding the commission’s internal capabilities. “We have spent the last two years targeting illegal activity and building our resources, skills, and capabilities. There is more to do, of course, and that also is true of others in the sector,” he added.
Role of Licensees in Combating Illegal Gambling
Rhodes also discussed the duties of licensed operators in preventing unlawful gaming. He encouraged licensees to do full due diligence on suppliers, pointing out that failure might lead to serious repercussions.
“I have strongly urged everyone to make sure that they have done their due diligence regarding their activities and those of any suppliers they rely on, even though it is not the responsibility of licensed operators to take action against illegal operators.” If the Commission finds any unlawful behavior in any operator, whether B2C or B2B, we may immediately suspend their license. In any case, they risk the real threat of having their GB license removed, which means everything they are giving to anybody else in Britain will halt immediately,” Rhodes cautioned.
Earlier this week, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission revealed some instances in which third-party resellers have sold licensed games on the unauthorized market, often violating their contracts. The regulator said that operators that provide business-to-business (B2B) gaming services, including live casinos and slots, risk losing their licenses if they do not avoid this form of exploitation.
Future Focus and Collaboration
The UKGC has reinforced its call for cooperation across the industry to curb illegal activities. Operators have been urged to scrutinize their practices and align with the commission’s initiatives to protect the integrity of the gambling market.
Last week, during an IAGA webinar, Rhodes revealed that they would be focusing on issues such as illegal football betting and upstream disruption. “The Gambling Commission is committed to uncovering illegal activities by increasing test purchases and strengthening partnerships,” he said.
What to Expect
The UKGC’s intensified crackdown on illegal gambling highlights its determination to shield British consumers from unregulated and potentially harmful operations. The commission sets new benchmarks for responsible regulation in the global gambling market by targeting unlicensed websites and strengthening industry cooperation.
Source: Yogonet.com
