UK Gambling Commission Targets Illegal Gambling Sites

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has outlined how it intends to deploy an additional £26 million aimed at tackling illegal online gambling activity, with a focus on strengthening enforcement capacity and improving technological detection tools.

Tim Miller, Executive Director of Research and Policy at the regulator, confirmed that part of the funding has already been used to expand staffing within the illegal markets team. The Commission expects this to increase its ability to issue cease-and-desist notices and disrupt unlicensed gambling websites operating in or targeting the UK.

Miller emphasised that building internal capability is central to the strategy, noting that hiring additional personnel is essential to scaling enforcement work. He also acknowledged the difficulty of competing with private-sector firms for specialist skills due to resource limitations.

The funding package, announced in the UK’s Autumn Budget, also supports the formation of the Illegal Gambling Taskforce, although the wider distribution of resources had previously been unclear until Miller’s latest comments.

Tech investment and international enforcement challenges

A second major area of spending will focus on technology designed to identify and remove illegal gambling platforms more efficiently. Miller said the Commission already uses a range of technical tools but described continued innovation as necessary to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated operators.

He indicated that further investment would be directed toward improving detection systems, describing technology as a central component of disruption efforts against offshore gambling sites.

However, Miller also highlighted structural challenges in enforcement, particularly when illegal operators are based outside the UK. He noted that cooperation with foreign jurisdictions remains inconsistent, making takedowns difficult once platforms operate internationally.

The Commission is also preparing to gain new powers allowing it to seek court orders for domain blocking at internet service provider level. While this would add another enforcement mechanism, Miller warned that illegal gambling enforcement often resembles a continuous cycle rather than a permanent solution, with blocked sites frequently reappearing under new domains.

Criticism of tech platforms over illegal advertising

Alongside enforcement strategy, Miller criticised major technology companies for what he described as a failure to prevent illegal gambling advertising from reaching vulnerable users, including individuals registered with self-exclusion schemes such as GamStop.

He argued that social media platforms and search engines possess the technical capability to identify and block illegal gambling content proactively, but instead tend to act only after exposure has already occurred.

“I find it almost incredible that tech billionaires competing to put a man on Mars claim they’re incapable of stopping non-GamStop ads appearing on their platforms,” Miller said.

The Commission’s concerns extend to messaging services and digital advertising networks, which continue to be used by unlicensed operators to target UK consumers.

Miller also addressed the role of cryptocurrency in illegal gambling ecosystems, describing it as one of the most frequently associated terms in online searches leading users to unlicensed operators.

He said there is growing recognition that crypto-based transactions are commonly used in the illegal market, raising questions about whether regulated operators could eventually integrate digital assets more widely under formal supervision.

While acknowledging potential benefits, Miller stressed that there is currently no clear regulatory framework enabling licensed operators to adopt crypto at scale. He added that any future approach would likely depend on guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority, which is expected to shape the UK’s broader position on digital assets, as reported by SBC News.

The Commission has begun discussions with industry stakeholders to explore how regulated gambling operators might safely incorporate crypto-based payment systems, although Miller noted that the regulator is not seeking to lead on crypto regulation ahead of financial authorities.

Miller said emerging technologies present both risks and opportunities, particularly in reducing the appeal of illegal gambling platforms. He suggested that innovation in regulated markets could help prevent consumers from drifting toward unlicensed operators.

At the same time, he reiterated that enforcement remains the immediate priority, with resources being directed toward disrupting illegal sites, strengthening cooperation with international partners, and improving technical capabilities.