Betting and Gaming Council Issues Open Letter Urging Tech Giants to Address Illegal Gambling

On 17 June 2026 the Betting and Gaming Council published an open letter signed by chief executive Grainne Hurst that calls on major technology platforms to strengthen their efforts against illegal and black-market gambling operators targeting users in the United Kingdom. The letter addresses social media networks, search engines, messaging services and advertising networks directly, and it outlines specific steps these companies could take to reduce exposure to unlicensed operators. The document emphasizes improved detection methods, wider use of artificial intelligence and data analytics, proactive removal of advertisements promoting illegal sites, and greater cross-platform information sharing. Hurst points out that illegal operators currently avoid UK licensing requirements, tax obligations and consumer protection standards that apply to regulated operators.

Key Recommendations in the Open Letter

The council lists several concrete actions for technology companies to consider. These include refining algorithms that identify gambling-related content from unlicensed sources, establishing clearer reporting channels for suspicious advertisements, and developing shared databases that flag known illegal domains across different services. The letter stresses that current measures have not produced enough visible results despite repeated discussions between the industry and platform representatives.

Observers note that the recommendations align with existing tools already used for other forms of harmful content, such as copyright infringement or misinformation campaigns. The council suggests that similar technical approaches could be adapted quickly if platforms allocate appropriate resources.

Growth of the Illegal Gambling Market

The letter references market research estimates showing that stakes placed with offshore adn illegal operators reached £16.6 billion in 2025, with projections indicating these figures could double to £33 billion within five years if current trends continue. These estimates come from independent analysis of payment flows and user activity patterns that bypass UK-regulated channels.

Because these operators operate outside the regulatory framework, they do not contribute to the taxes that fund treatment services for gambling-related harm, nor do they implement the age verification and spending limit tools required under UK law. The council highlights that this creates an uneven playing field while leaving users without access to dispute resolution mechanisms available through licensed sites.

Reference to the DCMS Illegal Gambling Taskforce

The open letter acknowledges the recent formation of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Illegal Gambling Taskforce, which brings together government officials, regulators and law enforcement agencies. Council representatives note that while this taskforce represents a positive step, coordinated action from technology platforms remains limited in practice.

The letter urges platforms to engage more actively with the taskforce by sharing operational data and participating in joint initiatives aimed at disrupting illegal supply chains. It argues that without stronger platform involvement, enforcement efforts will continue to face significant technical barriers.

Current Landscape of Platform Responses

Many major technology companies already maintain policies that prohibit advertisements for unlicensed gambling services in the UK. Implementation varies, however, and the council points to ongoing examples where illegal operators continue to appear in search results, social media feeds and sponsored content. The letter calls for more consistent enforcement and faster response times when violations are reported.

Industry analysts have tracked similar patterns in other regulated sectors where platforms introduced automated detection systems, and those cases show measurable reductions in unauthorized content once the systems receive sufficient training data from sector experts.

Conclusion

The open letter from the Betting and Gaming Council on 17 June 2026 sets out a clear set of expectations for technology platforms regarding illegal gambling operators. It connects the growth of the offshore market, documented at £16.6 billion in 2025 stakes, with the need for enhanced technical measures and greater collaboration. The document also situates these requests within the work of the new DCMS Illegal Gambling Taskforce, while noting that visible collective progress has so far fallen short of what the council considers necessary. The letter remains available on the council's website for platform representatives and other stakeholders to review.