Gambling Commission reveals ten-fold increase in URL takedowns

In a significant move against unlicensed online gaming, Great Britain’s Gambling Commission has successfully removed 264 illegal gambling websites in the current financial year, marking an impressive tenfold increase from the previous year’s efforts.

Commission Chief Executive Andrew Rhodes shared these noteworthy statistics during his keynote speech at the ICE World Regulatory Briefing on January 21. Rhodes provided a comprehensive overview of the British gambling market, detailing the regulator’s proactive strategies to combat illegal gambling activities.

Rhodes emphasized the Commission’s unwavering dedication to addressing unlawful gambling, particularly in the burgeoning online market. He revealed that, as part of their ongoing efforts, the Commission has referred over 102,000 URLs linked to unlicensed online operations in Britain to Google. Of these, approximately 64,000 have been successfully removed, including the aforementioned 264 illegal sites, surpassing the total takedowns of the previous financial year.

Furthermore, Rhodes outlined the Commission’s rigorous actions against illegal gambling practices. In the financial year to date, the regulator has issued over 770 cease-and-desist and disruption notices: 262 to unlicensed operators and 205 to complicit advertisers. While acknowledging this progress, he underscored the fact that “there is still much more to do” to curtail illegal activities effectively.

“Our objective is to dismantle the illegal market operating at scale in Great Britain,” Rhodes asserted. “A crucial component of our strategy is to target our efforts upstream, addressing issues at the level of hosts, payment providers, software developers, search engines, and other parties involved.”

Rhodes elaborated that the Commission has been enhancing its resources, skills, and capabilities over the past two years. However, he reiterated that ongoing commitment from all industry stakeholders is essential in this fight.

A Call to Action for Licensees

In a compelling call to action, Rhodes urged licensed operators to actively collaborate with the Commission in its mission against illegal gambling. Recently, the regulator issued a warning after observing incidents where licensed games were being exploited by unauthorized operators. He stressed the importance of enhanced monitoring of business relationships to ensure that partners are not inadvertently facilitating illegal activities.

Last November, Rhodes encouraged licensees to conduct thorough due diligence on their partners to ensure compliance with legal standards. He expressed confusion as to why any licensee would choose to associate with those undermining the sector by supporting illegal competitors.

“While licensed operators are not responsible for policing illegal actions taken by others, I strongly urge them to verify the legitimacy of their own operations and those of their suppliers,” Rhodes stated. “If the Commission identifies illegal conduct by any operator—whether a Business-to-Consumer (B2C) or Business-to-Business (B2B) entity—we may initiate an immediate license suspension. The stakes are high; if a license is revoked, all operations supplying to the British market will face an abrupt halt.”

Optimism for the Future of Gambling in Britain

Despite challenges posed by illegal gambling, Rhodes expressed optimism about the regulated market’s trajectory in Britain. He referenced the latest Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) figures released in October, which showcased historic results. The GGY for Q3, covering the three-month period ending in September, reached £1.32 billion (€1.56 billion/$1.63 billion). This surge was predominantly fueled by a remarkable 16% increase in online slots activity among UK gamblers, hitting an all-time high.

As the Gambling Commission intensifies its focus on eradicating illegal operators while promoting a healthy, regulated gambling environment, the future for legal gambling in Great Britain appears promising. Continuous collaboration among all stakeholders will be crucial in sustaining the integrity of this vibrant industry.