UK Gambling Commission Monitors 1,000 Illegal Gambling Operators
UK Gambling Commission Tracks Illegal Gambling Sites
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is actively monitoring the illegal gambling sector. CEO Andrew Rhodes recently highlighted the regulator’s efforts during a speech at the International Association of Gaming Regulators in Toronto, Canada.
Silent but Steady Crackdown on Offshore Gambling Websites
The UKGC has maintained a low profile regarding its actions against offshore gambling sites, aiming to avoid overpromising results. However, Rhodes revealed that significant progress has been made in curbing access to these platforms. The commission has reviewed around 200,000 URLs linked to illegal gambling and successfully removed half of them.
More notably, the UKGC has identified approximately 1,000 operators who frequently establish unregulated gambling sites. Although some operators try to circumvent bans using mirror sites, the widespread removal of URLs has substantially reduced their income and exerted ongoing pressure on their operations.
Rhodes emphasized the vital role of the UKGC in combating illegal gambling by both enhancing the appeal of the regulated market and taking active steps to disrupt unlawful operators. These measures include making it more difficult for illegal websites to appear in search results and improving market conditions to discourage players from engaging with unlicensed platforms.
Promoting the Benefits of Legal Gambling
Rhodes pointed out a shift in consumer expectations towards prompt service, contrasting it with delays frequently experienced in the offshore gambling market, such as slow or failed withdrawal transactions. The UKGC aims to inform players about these risks to deter them from illegal gambling.
As evidence of the regulated market’s reliability, Rhodes shared data showing that out of 44.2 million withdrawal requests processed, 96.3% were completed immediately. An additional 3.5% were finalized within 24 hours, and only 0.1% took longer than two days to settle, underscoring the efficiency of licensed gambling operators.
