UKGC Steps Up Enforcement Against Unlicensed Gambling Operators
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has emphasised a significant increase in enforcement activity against unlicensed gambling operators as part of its ongoing efforts to protect British consumers and uphold the integrity of the regulated market.
Speaking at the ICE World Regulatory Briefing, UKGC Chairman Andrew Rhodes highlighted that the regulator has significantly expanded its enforcement reach, with a notable rise in actions taken against illegal gambling sites that operate without a licence in Great Britain.
According to figures revealed during the briefing, the Commission has moved against 264 unlicensed gambling websites in the current financial year, a year-on-year surge of more than 1,000 per cent compared with the previous period. This escalation underscores the regulator’s prioritisation of tackling illicit operators that pose risks to consumers and undermine the legitimate industry.
Search Engine Removals And Disruption Orders Intensify Crackdown
As part of this enforcement activity, the UKGC has also referred more than 102,000 URLs linked to unlicensed gambling activities to major search engines. Of these, around 64,000 were removed from search results, reflecting collaborative efforts between the regulator and digital platforms to reduce the visibility of illegal gambling sites.
In addition to targeting websites, the Commission has issued 770 cease and desist notices and disruption orders, including more than 262 directed specifically at gambling operators and 205 aimed at advertisers promoting unlicensed services.
Rhodes stressed the importance of action at multiple levels: “Our aim is to prevent the illegal market from operating at scale in Great Britain,” he said. The Commission’s strategy focuses on enforcement upstream, at the level of hosts, payment processors, software vendors, and marketing partners, to diminish the illegal sector’s capacity to service consumers.
Consumer Protection Drives Continued Focus On Illegal Market
Industry experts have welcomed the regulator’s tougher stance, noting that unlicensed platforms often operate without the safeguards that protect vulnerable players under UK rules. Illegal sites are not connected to the GAMSTOP self-exclusion system and typically lack robust anti-money laundering (AML) and social responsibility measures.
The UKGC’s intensified enforcement push comes amid broader regulatory and market challenges, including adjustments to gambling taxation and ongoing consultations on Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). While these policy debates continue, action against illicit operators remains a clear priority for the Commission in early 2026.
