Key Moments:
- Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the British Gambling Commission, highlighted the need for international cooperation at the IAGR 2025 Annual Conference on 20 October 2025.
- Remote gambling in the UK accounted for £6.9 billion in the latest figures, growing 7% year-on-year and 63% since 2015/16, with online slots producing £4.4 billion in the most recent year.
- Enforcement actions by the Gambling Commission resulted in a 300% increase in criminal cases over two years, and nearly 200,000 illegal operator URLs were reported in the current financial year.
Regulatory Priorities and Industry Trends
The 2025 Annual Conference of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) opened with a keynote from Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the British Gambling Commission. In his remarks to a global audience of regulators, Rhodes outlined the evolution of gambling in the United Kingdom and underscored the importance of adapting to both technological advance and societal shifts.
He emphasized, “Our aim is to keep gambling safe, fair and free from crime,” and noted that addressing sector challenges requires shared responsibility. Rhodes further warned, “it would be a mistake to think we can tackle everything alone.”
Market Insights: Growth and Structure
According to data from the latest Gambling Survey for Great Britain, gambling participation in the UK currently stands at 48% of adults. The industry’s total value is reported at £15.6 billion, with £11.5 billion not including the lottery segment. Remote gambling, led by digital channels, represents around 60% of the non-lottery market and is valued at £6.9 billion. Online slots remain the most significant online segment, contributing £4.4 billion in the past year.
Rhodes attributed this rise to increasing household internet coverage at 95% and high engagement with mobile devices, noting that consumers now spend over four hours online daily, with 75% of that time occurring on smartphones.
Technological Developments and Consumer Protection
A major portion of Rhodes’s address focused on the role of artificial intelligence within gambling operations. He highlighted how AI is used to standardize customer interactions and bolster safer-gambling measures, while cautioning against unchecked hyper-personalization that could boost gambling intensity.
The role of cryptocurrencies was also addressed as a pressing regulatory issue. Rhodes made it clear that, though no UK-licensed operators offer crypto gaming, its presence is being felt in illegal channels and among younger adults. He identified the urgent need to handle issues around digital fund provenance, anti-money laundering, and financing risks at the governmental level.
Curbing Illegal Gambling and Rising Enforcement
The Gambling Commission has prioritized illegal gambling enforcement, reporting a 300% surge in criminal cases over the last two years, which Rhodes linked to increased investigative activity. A specialist task force continues to collaborate with digital platforms to restrict access to unauthorized operators. In the current financial year, nearly 200,000 illegal URLs have been reported, resulting in about 100,000 takedowns.
Rhodes conveyed that their approach aims not just to block individual sites but also to hinder the supply chain — including targeting B2B content providers linked to black-market activity.
Withdrawal Processing and Account Restrictions
Consumer fairness ranked high in Rhodes’s speech. Data from June to September 2024 showed 44.2 million withdrawal requests, with 96.3% handled automatically, 3.5% within 24 hours, and just 0.1% exceeding 48 hours. He stressed the importance of scrutinizing delayed transactions to address any inefficiencies. Operator statistics further revealed that 4.31% of active accounts are subject to restrictions, while 2.23% are closed entirely. The imposition of staking limits as low as 0.1% of the maximum stake on some accounts was flagged as a potential driver toward unregulated gambling options.
Data Initiatives and Financial Risk Assessment
The Gambling Commission’s ROCD initiative has enabled the regulator to access near real-time player data. Early results show that individuals under 25 are less likely to set deposit limits yet more likely to reach financial risk thresholds. Ongoing Financial Risk Assessment pilots have identified high-spending players at financial risk, with these individuals being two to four times more likely to be in debt management plans and two to five times more likely to have experienced a recent default.
Rhodes stated, “We are not seeking to curtail personal freedom,” emphasizing the Commission’s strategy of targeted intervention to prevent financial harm.
Outlook: Global Moves Toward a Safer Ecosystem
In concluding his keynote, Rhodes called for deeper global cooperation on industry challenges, especially as operators and regulators frequently address the same issues across jurisdictions. He encouraged, “identify at least one joint project with another regulator this week,” underlining the necessity of collaboration for a more responsible future.
Throughout, Rhodes’s IAGR 2025 keynote set a clear direction for addressing digital transformation, regulatory challenges, and the shared responsibility for consumer protection in gambling. The sector’s complexity and growth signal an urgent need for joint action, with international coordination positioned as a cornerstone for resilient and ethical markets.
UK Gambling Market Metrics
| Segment | Value | Key Statistics |
|---|---|---|
| Total UK Gambling Market | £15.6 billion | 48% adult participation |
| Non-Lottery Market | £11.5 billion | – |
| Remote Gambling | £6.9 billion | 60% of non-lottery market; 7% growth YoY |
| Online Slots | £4.4 billion | Largest online segment (latest year) |
| Household Internet Penetration | 95% | Majority of online play via mobile |
Regulatory Data Points
| Metric | Value | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Cases Handled | +300% | Past 2 years |
| Illegal URLs Reported | ~200,000 | Current financial year |
| Illegal URLs Taken Down | ~100,000 | Current financial year |
| Withdrawal Requests (June-Sept 2024) | 44.2 million | June – September 2024 |
| Automatically Cleared | 96.3% | June – September 2024 |
| Completed within 24 hours | 3.5% | June – September 2024 |
| Over 48 hours | 0.1% | June – September 2024 |
| Accounts Restricted | 4.31% | – |
| Accounts Closed | 2.23% | – |
- Author
Daniel Williams
