Gambling Commission Outlines £26m Anti-Illegal Market Plan

The Gambling Commission has outlined its enhanced strategy for tackling illegal gambling operations following a £26 million funding boost over three years, while providing fresh insights into the UK's gambling market performance and regulatory developments.

Ian Angus, Director of Policy at the Gambling Commission, delivered a comprehensive overview of the regulator's priorities at the Clarion Payment Providers Summit on 20 May 2026, highlighting both market stability and emerging challenges facing the sector.

Market Performance Remains Robust Despite Changing Landscape

The latest data reveals a mature and competitive gambling market in Great Britain, with participation rates holding steady at 48 per cent of the adult population over four-week periods between January 2024 and January 2025. This figure remained consistent through to the end of October, according to quarterly releases.

Meanwhile, Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) for the entire sector reached a new high of £16.8 billion for the period from April 2024 to March 2025. Recent quarterly figures show the sector generated £4.3 billion in GGY between July and September alone.

"This is the picture of a mature, competitive market, driving forwards through innovation. And a knack for innovation is a useful skill to have in changing times."

— Ian Angus, Director of Policy, Gambling Commission

The figures represent a snapshot of industry performance before the UK Government Budget, which introduced notable changes affecting the gambling sector. While the Commission doesn't advise on tax policy, Angus acknowledged that the industry is already seeing changes as a result of the Budget measures.

Enhanced Enforcement Capabilities Against Illegal Operations

The Commission's anti-illegal gambling efforts received significant backing with the £26 million funding allocation, which Angus described as recognition of the regulator's effectiveness in developing "a world-leading approach" to tackling unlicensed operations.

Recent enforcement statistics demonstrate the scale of current activities. In the last financial year alone, the Commission:

• Issued 741 Cease and Desist notices to advertisers and operators
• Reported 397,527 URLs to various search engines
• Achieved removal of 266,667 URLs as a result
• Referred 1,068 websites to search engines for delisting
• Disrupted 1,134 websites through takedowns or geo-blocking

Data-Driven Approach to Market Intelligence

The Commission has extended its data collection on illegal gambling trends from July of the previous year through to February of this year, providing 21 months of engagement data. Despite acknowledged margins of error in estimating illegal gambling activity, the updated analysis suggests no consistent or sustained growth in consumer engagement with unlicensed operators.

"It's always important not to over rely on data from a single source to tell the whole story on a topic as complex as illegal gambling."

— Ian Angus, Director of Policy, Gambling Commission

The regulator continues refining its methodology and seeks input from international counterparts and licensed operators to verify existing data sources and identify additional datasets. As part of the Government's Illegal Gambling Taskforce, the Commission will help create the first national risk assessment for Britain's illegal gambling market.

Financial Risk Assessments Progress Towards Implementation

Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) represent one of the most significant pending regulatory developments, with Angus providing detailed clarification on their scope and pilot results following recent industry commentary.

The Director emphasised that FRAs are not affordability checks and will not attempt to assess what individual customers can afford to gamble. Similarly, proposed thresholds for assessments do not limit or cap customer spending.

Pilot Results Exceed Government Expectations

The FRA pilot programme has delivered results that surpass initial government estimates from the 2023 white paper:

• Less than 3 per cent of active customer accounts would trigger operator steps under the proposals
• 97 per cent of the highest spending accounts meeting FRA requirements would receive frictionless assessment processes
• Only 0.1 per cent of active accounts would be unable to receive frictionless assessment – equivalent to one in 1000 accounts

These figures significantly improve on the government's white paper estimate of 80 per cent frictionless assessment rates.

"These are good outcomes. Now, no one should hear this and think we have pre-determined to implement FRAs – only our Board can decide that."

— Ian Angus, Director of Policy, Gambling Commission

If implemented, FRAs would allow the Commission to provide clear guidance that operators should not require document submission from consumers following a financial risk assessment. The regulator committed that failing to request such documents would not constitute grounds for regulatory action.

AML Preparations and FATF Assessment

Anti-money laundering remains a priority area, particularly with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) assessment of the UK scheduled for next year. The Commission's compliance team has begun enhanced industry engagement following last year's UK AML risk assessment publication.

Operators will need to review the Commission's updated risk assessment when published and implement any required business changes. The regulator views the FATF assessment as an opportunity to ensure both regulatory and industry policies remain effective against current money laundering risks.

Innovation Support and Crypto Asset Exploration

Despite regulatory constraints, Angus emphasised the Commission's support for innovation aligned with licensing objectives. The regulator encourages operators to present ideas that could improve customer experience, increase competitiveness, or enhance positive outcomes.

In a notable development, the Commission has initiated conversations through its Industry Forum about crypto assets as potential consumer payment options for licensed gambling operations. This follows progress by the Financial Conduct Authority on crypto asset frameworks.

"We are looking at what a potential path forward would be, to create a way for crypto assets to be more easily used as a consumer payment option for licensed and regulated gambling in Great Britain."

— Ian Angus, Director of Policy, Gambling Commission

The initiative remains in early stages with no immediate developments to announce, but represents a significant shift in the regulator's approach to alternative payment methods.

Outstanding Regulatory Deliverables

The Commission continues implementing remaining elements from the Gambling Act review white paper, with two key consultations approaching critical milestones.

The Games Machines consultation, which published early decisions in January, expects a full response this Summer. Meanwhile, the FRA consultation approaches Board consideration following comprehensive pilot testing.

The regulator has largely completed implementation of its responsibilities from the white paper review, with evaluation of introduced measures becoming the primary focus moving forward.

Collaborative Enforcement Strategy

Angus stressed the limitations of unilateral regulatory action against illegal gambling, emphasising the necessity of collaborative approaches. The Commission's enforcement successes result from partnerships with internet search providers, hosting companies, other regulators, government departments, operators, and payment providers.

"So only by working together – everyone who can influence illegal gambling – can we maximise our impact and protect consumers and the licensed market."

— Ian Angus, Director of Policy, Gambling Commission

This collaborative philosophy extends beyond illegal gambling enforcement to encompass the Commission's broader regulatory approach, as outlined in its Corporate Strategy currently in its final year of implementation.

Strategic Market Positioning

The Commission's enhanced funding and expanded capabilities arrive as the sector faces evolving challenges from both illegal operators and changing government policy. The regulator's emphasis on innovation support alongside enforcement activities suggests recognition that market competitiveness remains crucial for maintaining consumer preference for licensed operators.

The stable participation rates and record GGY figures indicate underlying market strength, but the Commission's investment in illegal market intelligence suggests ongoing vigilance about competitive pressures from unlicensed alternatives. The regulator's data-driven approach aims to provide clearer insights into these market dynamics while supporting evidence-based policy development.

The crypto asset exploration represents perhaps the most forward-looking element of current Commission thinking, potentially opening new payment channels that could enhance licensed operator competitiveness while maintaining regulatory oversight. However, the early stage of these discussions suggests any implementation timeline remains uncertain.

For payment providers and other industry stakeholders, the Commission's collaborative approach creates opportunities for input into both enforcement strategies and innovation frameworks. The regulator's emphasis on partnership working indicates receptiveness to industry insights that could enhance regulatory effectiveness while supporting market development objectives.

According to UK Gambling Commission.