UK Gambling Commission urges industry action against illegal gambling

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) has issued an urgent call for tighter cooperation between regulators and the licensed gambling industry to confront the growing challenge of illegal gambling operations. In a keynote address delivered at ICE Barcelona 2026, Tim Miller, executive director of Research and Policy at the UKGC, highlighted what he described as a critical need for the industry to take stronger commercial action against suppliers and other third parties that facilitate illegal gambling activity.

Miller’s remarks underscored a strategic shift in the regulator’s approach to tackling unlicensed operators that continue to lure players away from the regulated market and pose significant risks to consumers, especially vulnerable groups such as those who have self-excluded from gambling.

Framing the challenge of illegal gambling

Illegal gambling remains a persistent problem in the United Kingdom and in many other jurisdictions around the world. These unregulated online operators typically do not comply with responsible gambling safeguards, consumer protection standards or financial regulations that govern licensed companies. As a result, players who engage with these sites risk financial loss without the protections offered under UK law.

In his speech, Miller noted that the motivations for consumers to visit illegal gambling websites are varied. Some individuals arrive at these sites inadvertently after searching online for gambling options. Others are deliberately seeking more attractive terms including enhanced bonuses or the ability to use cryptocurrencies that are not permitted under UK regulatory frameworks. Still others have self-excluded through programs designed to help those with gambling problems, only to find unlicensed alternatives that do not honour self-exclusion commitments.

With these concerns in mind, Miller framed the threat of illegal gambling as one that affects not only consumers but also the integrity of the licensed gambling sector and public finances. Illegal operators do not pay the same taxes or comply with financial regulations, which undermines both competition and revenue for the UK and other regulated markets.

Key themes from the ICE Barcelona address

In Barcelona, Miller presented a speech titled “Whose Side Are You On? Aligning Regulatory Fire Power With Commercial Leverage.” The address laid out his view that the licensed industry must use its commercial influence to drive out those companies and individuals that support the illegal gambling market.

One of Miller’s central arguments was that licensed operators and their commercial partners often unwittingly strengthen the illegal market by maintaining relationships with service providers that also assist unlicensed gambling entities. He argued that this dual relationship creates conditions in which the illegal market can thrive at the expense of the regulated sector.

Miller said that the licensed gambling industry, which he described as a global sector with considerable economic power, should not underestimate its ability to influence market dynamics. He urged industry stakeholders to use that leverage to effectively “strangle” those third parties that help illegal operators by driving traffic, providing infrastructure or advertising services.

Critical questions for industry partners

To help drive this change, Miller posed three key questions that he believes legitimate businesses must ask themselves:

• What steps has your business taken to integrate the management of illegal market risks into its procurement, contractual and commercial decision-making?
• What level of due diligence are you conducting with suppliers and contractors to ensure they are not also serving illegal competitors?
• What contractual provisions can be implemented to prevent suppliers from working with unlicensed operators or to impose substantial consequences if they do?

These questions are designed to push companies to think strategically about how their business relationships may be unintentionally bolstering the illegal market. By embedding stronger compliance and accountability measures within contracts and supplier arrangements, the industry could reduce the ability of unlicensed operators to benefit from licensed companies’ infrastructure, technology and marketing channels.

Criticism of advertising platforms

Miller directed particular scrutiny toward large technology companies that host advertising services, singling out Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company of social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. According to Miller, Meta’s systems allow illegal gambling operators to advertise their services widely, including ads for sites that explicitly do not participate in the UK’s national self‑exclusion program, GamStop.

Miller questioned Meta’s claims that it only removes illegal gambling advertisements when notified. He said that such a stance implies the company does not know about those adverts unless informed, which he described as inaccurate. Miller pointed out that the UKGC itself can identify these advertisements in Meta’s own searchable ad library, which suggests that Meta could similarly proactively detect and remove them if it so chose.

“It’s effectively a window into criminality,” he said. “If we can find them then so can Meta: they simply choose not to look.”

Miller’s remarks reflect broader regulator concerns that platforms with massive global reach may not be doing enough to prevent their systems from being used to promote unlawful gambling services, including those that target consumers who have already taken steps to control their gambling activity.

Regulatory enforcement and disruption activity

Alongside his call for improved industry action, Miller outlined the UK Gambling Commission’s own work to disrupt illegal gambling activity. Between April and December 2025, the commission issued 592 cease‑and‑desist orders to advertisers and operators believed to be involved in illegal activity. It also reported hundreds of thousands of URLs to search engines for removal and referred many websites for delisting from search results. A significant number of illegal gambling sites were either taken offline or geo‑blocked to prevent access in the United Kingdom.

Miller described these efforts as part of an evidence‑based enforcement strategy that continues to evolve. He also noted that some enforcement work remains confidential due to operational or legal sensitivities.

These enforcement actions reflect a broader regulatory emphasis on protecting consumers from unregulated operators that do not adhere to UK gambling laws and responsible gambling safeguards. By disrupting the accessibility and visibility of illegal sites, the UKGC aims to reduce the harm these operators can inflict on players and the legitimate industry alike.

Government support and legislative developments

Miller noted that the UK government has backed the commission’s efforts to combat illegal gambling. In the November 2025 budget, the government announced additional funding of £26 million over three years to enhance the regulator’s capacity to fight the black market. He described this funding injection as recognition of the progress already achieved and as an endorsement of future work.

In addition, the Crime and Policing Bill, at that time progressing through the House of Lords, was expected to grant the UKGC new statutory powers to suspend internet protocol addresses and domain names linked to illegal gambling operations once enacted. Miller said these powers would allow the commission to build on existing disruption efforts by more directly targeting the infrastructure used by illegal operators.

Shared responsibility

A central theme of Miller’s address was the idea that no single actor can combat illegal gambling alone. He stressed that success requires collective engagement involving government, regulators, licensed operators, technology platforms and other stakeholders. Collaboration across jurisdictions and sectors is essential to target the complex and evolving tactics used by unlicensed operators, he said.

Miller urged all parties involved in the regulated gambling industry to reflect on the role they play, directly or indirectly, in enabling illegal operators. He called for a shared sense of purpose and alignment that focuses not only on regulatory compliance but also on proactive commercial measures that uphold the integrity of the regulated market.

Conclusion

The UK Gambling Commission’s address at ICE Barcelona 2026 serves as a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to safeguard the regulated gambling sector and protect consumers from the risks posed by illegal operators. Tim Miller’s message was clear: regulatory oversight alone is insufficient; the licensed industry must actively exercise its commercial influence to curtail the operations of unlicensed operators. By embedding rigorous due diligence, contractual safeguards and proactive monitoring into their business practices, operators can help ensure that their suppliers, affiliates and technology partners do not inadvertently strengthen the illegal market.

This call to action underscores a broader principle: the fight against illegal gambling is not merely a regulatory obligation but a shared responsibility. Government, regulators, industry and technology platforms must act in concert, recognizing that the economic and reputational costs of inaction are significant. Illegal operators not only expose consumers to financial and psychological harm but also undermine the credibility of the licensed market, disrupt fair competition and deprive public coffers of vital tax revenue.

Miller’s insistence that companies must “pick a side” highlights a fundamental shift in the approach to compliance and corporate responsibility within gambling. Those who continue to straddle the line between legal and illegal markets risk not only regulatory sanctions but also public censure and commercial disadvantage. Conversely, those who leverage their economic and operational influence to eliminate connections with unlicensed operators contribute to a more transparent, fair and safe gambling environment.

Ultimately, the Commission’s vision emphasizes that consumer protection, industry integrity and responsible business conduct are inseparable goals. By combining regulatory enforcement with strategic commercial action, the UK gambling industry can set a global benchmark for ethical practices, ensuring that the licensed sector thrives while illegal operators are systematically marginalized. The path forward requires vigilance, coordination and the willingness of every stakeholder to align with the principles of a fully regulated and responsible gambling market.

FAQs

What is the UK Gambling Commission’s primary concern about illegal gambling?
Illegal gambling poses risks to consumer protection, undermines regulated markets and deprives public finances of tax revenue.

Why did Tim Miller address the issue at ICE Barcelona 2026?
He spoke to urge industry and regulators to cooperate more closely against illegal operators that threaten regulated gambling.

What is the significance of “not on GamStop” sites?
They are illegal gambling websites that avoid the UK’s self‑exclusion scheme and can target vulnerable consumers.

What role does Meta Platforms play in the UKGC’s concerns?
The regulator criticised Meta for not sufficiently preventing illegal gambling ads on Facebook and Instagram.

How many cease‑and‑desist orders did the UKGC issue between April and December 2025?
The commission issued 592 cease‑and‑desist orders in that period.

What new powers might the UKGC gain from the Crime and Policing Bill?
The commission could gain authority to suspend IP addresses and domain names linked to illegal gambling.

Why must the regulated industry review its suppliers?
To ensure they are not also supporting or providing services to illegal gambling operators.

What funding did the UK government provide to strengthen enforcement?
An additional £26 million over three years was allocated to help combat illegal gambling.

How does the UKGC seek to remove illegal sites from search engines?
By reporting URLs for removal and referring websites for delisting and disruption.

Why does the UKGC emphasise shared responsibility?
Because no single organisation can effectively tackle illegal gambling without cooperation across sectors.