BETTER CHANGE
customers, and lost revenue. This is a battle the regulated sector will not win.
The illegal market will always be able to offer more, more incentives, more risk, more freedom from oversight. That is its nature.
The opportunity instead lies in reframing the value of regulation. Consumer protection, fairness, security, and accountability are not weaknesses—they are strengths. But they must be communicated effectively and delivered consistently.
Customer care should be positioned as a competitive advantage, not a compliance obligation.
SO, WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT?
Tackling illegal gambling is not the responsibility of a single entity. It is a shared challenge that spans government, regulators, industry, and society.
GOVERNMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Illegal gambling is not just a regulatory issue; it is a criminal one. Revenues generated through illegal operators can be linked to wider criminal activity, from fraud to money laundering and organised crime.
Governments must ensure that law enforcement agencies have the powers and resources required to act. While shutting down land-based illegal operations is relatively straightforward, tackling offshore online operators is significantly more complex. It often becomes a reactive process, closing one site as another emerges.
A more proactive, coordinated approach is needed, alongside stronger international cooperation and enforcement mechanisms.
REGULATORS
The UK Gambling Commission has been allocated funding, reportedly £26 million, to combat illegal gambling. While this is a positive step, it is modest in comparison to the scale of the challenge and the resources available to global technology platforms.
Regulators need enhanced powers, not only to act against illegal operators, but to hold enabling industries to account. This includes social media platforms and financial services, both of which play a role in the ecosystem.
At the same time, regulators must remain mindful of channelisation. Evidence from countries such as Germany and the Netherlands suggests that overly restrictive frameworks can reduce channelisation, inadvertently strengthening the black market.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Illegal gambling leaves a financial trail. Payments to and from unlicensed operators should be detectable, particularly in an increasingly digital payments landscape. Banks, payment providers, and fintech
companies have a critical role to play. Enhanced monitoring, transaction blocking, and intelligence sharing could significantly disrupt illegal operators’ ability to function.
The question is not whether this can be done, but whether it is being done consistently and effectively.
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS Illegal gambling is not hidden. It is often advertised openly across major social media platforms.
The challenge here is scale and accountability. Platforms such as Meta host vast amounts of content, but with that reach comes responsibility. The promotion of illegal gambling should not be treated as a marginal issue; it is a clear breach of both legal and ethical standards.
Stronger enforcement, faster response times, and clearer policies are essential.
THE REGULATED INDUSTRY The licensed gambling sector is not the cause of illegal gambling but it is undoubtedly affected by it.
Organisations such as the Betting and Gaming Council of Great Britain are playing an important role in raising awareness, gathering evidence, and advocating for balanced regulation that protects consumers without driving them away. It is also vital that the harms associated with illegal gambling are not misattributed to the regulated sector. Clear differentiation is needed, not just within the industry, but in public perception.
SUPPLIERS AND THIRD PARTIES From game developers to payment processors, the broader supply chain has influence. If illegal operators are denied access to content, technology, and financial infrastructure, their growth can be constrained. The UK Gambling Commission has already indicated that those who support illegal operations may face consequences, but enforcement will be key. In addition, organisations focused on real experience, education, and harm prevention have an important role in deepening
understanding and shaping effective responses.
INFLUENCERS AND CELEBRITIES Endorsements matter. When public figures promote gambling (knowingly or unknowingly), they influence behaviour.
There must be greater accountability and awareness in this space. Promoting illegal operators is not just irresponsible; it is potentially criminal.
CONSUMERS
Finally, consumers themselves are part of the equation.
Not all players who use illegal sites realise they are doing so. Education is critical, helping consumers understand how to identify licensed operators and the risks associated with unregulated environments.
For those who knowingly choose illegal options, the risks must be made clear: lack of consumer protection, exposure to fraud, and no recourse in the event of disputes.
A COLLECTIVE RESPONSE Illegal gambling represents one of the most significant challenges facing the industry today. It cuts across regulation, technology, crime, and consumer behaviour.
There is no single solution and no single point of responsibility.
What is required is coordination. Government, regulators, industry, and supporting sectors must work together, aligning incentives and sharing intelligence. At the same time, the regulated market must continue to evolve, ensuring that it remains both safe and appealing.
As an organisation committed to supporting a safer gambling environment, Better Change recognises the importance of this balance. Protecting consumers and protecting the integrity of the regulated market are not competing objectives; they are fundamentally linked.
The illegal market thrives in the gaps. Our collective responsibility is to close them. Play positively. Rob
Rob Mabbett
Rob joined Better Change from the charity Gordon Moody where he spent 5 years running their international gambling helpline “Gambling Therapy” as well as helping to raise their profile and ensure sufficient treatment spaces were available in their residential treatment centres to meet demand. With over 12 years industry experience, including being a previous winner of the Racing Post and SiS Betting Shop Manager of the Year award, Rob brings a unique insight into the prevention and treatment of gambling harm and is keen to focus his efforts further upstream as we aim to prevent against gambling harm at Better Change through Positive Play.
MARCH 2026 23
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
