Gambling Commission targets illegal operators while exploring crypto future

The Gambling Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling illegal gambling operators, with executive director for operations Sue Young outlining a targeted enforcement strategy designed to disrupt criminal businesses operating at scale.

Young spoke at the KPMG Gibraltar eSummit and used her first major speech since joining the regulator in March to explain how the Commission intends to use additional funding and new powers to combat the illegal market.

Drawing on her previous experience at HM Revenue & Customs and the Home Office, Young said illegal gambling should be viewed in the same way as other criminal markets, with organised operators seeking to generate profits while avoiding the costs and obligations associated with regulation.

Instead of attempting to eliminate every illegal gambling site, Young said the Commission's priority is preventing operators from establishing a significant presence in Great Britain.

Focus remains on operators working at scale

A central theme of the  speech was the Commission's belief that enforcement resources should be focused on the largest threats rather than spread evenly across thousands of illegal websites.

Young argued that headline figures about the number of illegal sites online can distract from the more important objective of disrupting operators with substantial customer reach and financial scale.

"We increasingly know what and where the criminals are, we know how to frustrate them and we want to continue working with all of you to prevent them operating at scale." - Sue Young

The regulator has already invested in monitoring capabilities, intelligence gathering and test purchasing activity, while also expanding partnerships with payment providers, search engines, domain hosts, financial institutions and law enforcement agencies.

Young also stressed the importance of industry intelligence. She encouraged operators and stakeholders to continue sharing information even when the outcome of investigations cannot be publicly disclosed.

Enforcement results and new powers

The Commission mentioned several enforcement outcomes achieved during the last financial year.

Working alongside partners, the regulator issued hundreds of cease-and-desist notices, secured the removal of hundreds of thousands of URLs from search engines and disrupted more than 1,100 websites through takedowns or geo-blocking measures.

Young also pointed to recently approved legislation that will strengthen the regulator's ability to tackle illegal online gambling. Under new powers introduced through the Crime and Policing Bill, the Commission will be able to directly target IP addresses and domain names linked to illegal gambling websites.

The regulator has also received additional government funding. £26m has been allocated over three years to support enforcement activities.

Commission opens door to crypto payments

Young also used the speech to show the Commission's desire to support innovation within the regulated gambling sector. One area under consideration is the future use of cryptocurrency as a payment method.

Young revealed that discussions have already begun with the Commission's Industry Forum to examine how regulatory developments led by the Financial Conduct Authority could eventually create a pathway for crypto assets to be used more easily by licensed gambling operators in Great Britain.

While she emphasised that any changes would take time, the comments represent one of the clearest indications yet that the regulator is actively considering how crypto payments could fit within the regulated market.

Young also suggested the Commission is considering a broader review of regulatory requirements to ensure rules remain proportionate and aligned with the UK Government's wider reform agenda.