Illegal gambling and the associated risks to consumers and markets were the focus of a global enforcement roundtable held during the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) Conference in Berlin.
The session brought together senior representatives from leading trade associations, regulatory authorities, and law enforcement agencies to examine current responses and share strategies to combat unregulated gambling activity. The roundtable was chaired by Keith Bristow, Chair of the UK’s Gambling Anti-Money Laundering Group (GAMLG) and former Director-General of the UK’s National Crime Agency.
This event marked the first initiative stemming from a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in October 2023 by the American Gaming Association (AGA), the European Casino Association (ECA), and the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). The MOU outlines joint commitments to address cross-border challenges facing the regulated igaming sector, including the illegal gambling market.
Attendees discussed collaborative enforcement actions, shared insights on successful national approaches, and considered opportunities for joint research and operational cooperation. The roundtable included contributions from the chief executives of each trade body, followed by input from regulatory and enforcement officials regarding ongoing activities and future coordination.
Grainne Hurst, BGC CEO, said: “It was a privilege and honour to address this Enforcement Roundtable and hear from my fellow CEO’s who lead trade bodies in Europe and America.
“The growing, unsafe, illegal gambling black market poses a shared challenge to all our members, and their millions of customers.
“These illegal operators do not pay tax, do not support sport and don’t care about player protection measures. Instead, they target those vulnerable to harm, hurt the economy and threaten regulated businesses.
“These criminal organisations don’t recognise the rules, or international borders, so it was vital we joined today alongside a host of international regulators and representatives from the relevant law enforcement agencies, to share knowledge and understanding of the threat we all face.
“I hope this event will pave the way to further collaborative efforts against the unregulated illegal black market, as we continue working hard to ensure our sector stays crime free.”
Bill Miller, AGA President and CEO, said: “Illegal gambling is a global threat that undermines consumer protections, siphons revenue from legal operators who follow the rules, and jeopardizes the integrity of our regulated markets. This roundtable marks an important step toward stronger global collaboration. Together, we’re sending a clear message: the legal gaming industry stands united with regulators and law enforcement in confronting the illegal market and protecting consumers worldwide.”
Erwin Van Lambaart, Chairman of the ECA, said “Illegal gambling has reached crisis levels across all 27 EU member states, capturing an alarming 70 percent market share—a disturbing reality confirmed by the 2024 Yield Sec study. This translates to €80 billion in illegal revenues in 2024 alone—funds that should support member states’ budgets but instead flow directly to criminal operators. Even more concerning, there’s currently a 92 per cent probability of encountering an advertisement for illegal gambling products online rather than licensed offerings. This digital bombardment particularly endangers our young people, who are most vulnerable to these sophisticated marketing tactics. The numbers demand immediate, coordinated action. Regulators, governments, EU institutions, and national enforcement bodies must unite with the licensed industry to combat this growing threat before more damage is done to our economies and communities.”
