Key Moments:
- The UK Gambling Commission has released the fourth and final report addressing illegal online gambling.
- This concluding report examines the complexities of estimating the size of the illegal online gambling market.
- Ongoing research, data collection, and enforcement actions are set to continue beyond the publication of this series.
Comprehensive Four-Part Analysis Comes to a Close
The UK Gambling Commission has completed its multi-part series on illegal online gambling. The fourth and final report has now been published. The project began earlier this year to study how consumers interact with illegal gambling platforms. It also sought to identify risks and highlight the countermeasures used to combat them.
Earlier reports examined consumer awareness, motivations, and engagement trends. They also reviewed strategies designed to disrupt illegal gambling online.
Addressing the Size of the Illicit Market
The concluding report, entitled “Estimating the size of the illegal online gambling market,” delves into the difficulties of accurately quantifying an activity that operates in secrecy. Reliable data on this underground sector is scarce, often necessitating the use of assumptions that limit confidence in any one estimate. The report draws comparisons with similar challenges experienced in estimating the impact of other illegal trades, such as that of illicit tobacco.
Key Findings from the Series
- Motivations for participating in illegal sites are diverse and not driven by a single factor.
- A portion of consumers are not aware they are engaging in illegal gambling, underscoring the need for better public education.
- Not all activities within this market equate to losses for the regulated sector, as some users are self-excluded or otherwise ineligible to gamble legally.
- Currently, there is no evidence indicating sustained growth in illegal website usage where data is available.
- Various enforcement strategies are in use, with efforts supported by industry-wide and international partnerships.
Collaboration Remains Vital
The Commission underscores the necessity for a unified approach across government, industry stakeholders, digital platforms, and financial services to effectively monitor and address illegal gambling online. It stresses that continued cooperation is fundamental to both measurement and enforcement activities in this space.
Leadership Perspective
Chief Executive, Andrew Rhodes said: “Illegal online gambling remains a serious threat to consumers and to the integrity of the regulated market.
“While measuring the full scale of the problem is complex, our understanding is growing — and so too is our ability to disrupt illegal operators.
“Our independent research has strengthened the evidence base, improved transparency, and underlined that progress depends on a collective effort across sectors.”
Outlook and Ongoing Initiatives
Although this publication represents the conclusion of the current series, the UK Gambling Commission confirmed that research, data gathering, and enforcement operations targeting illegal online gambling will persist.
- Author
Daniel Williams
