Author: Anna Kamber

UKGC Targets Illegal Betting Growth with Dedicated Enforcement Role

UKGC Targets Illegal Betting Growth with Dedicated Enforcement Role

Posted by | May 13, 2026 | |

The UK’s gambling regulator is starting to treat illegal online betting less like a compliance issue and more like a long-term digital enforcement battle. In a newly published job listing, the Gambling Commission confirmed it is hiring a dedicated “Head of Illegal Markets,” a senior role focused almost entirely on combating the growth of offshore gambling operators targeting UK players. A New Senior Role Focused on Illegal Gambling Enforcement According to the regulator, the new hire will coordinate intelligence, enforcement, sports betting integrity, and legal teams while helping shape both tactical investigations and long-term strategy around illegal gambling activity....

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UK Financial Risk Checks Are Moving Closer, But the Real Story Is What They May Not Change

UK Financial Risk Checks Are Moving Closer, But the Real Story Is What They May Not Change

Posted by | Apr 20, 2026 | |

The debate around financial risk checks in UK gambling has often been driven by fear of friction, spending limits, and players being pushed toward unlicensed sites. The latest update from the UK Gambling Commission tells a more nuanced story. New data from the regulator’s 2025 Financial Risk Assessment (FRA) pilot suggests the framework may be far narrower, quieter, and less disruptive than many expected. Rather than introducing blanket affordability controls, the model being tested is aimed at identifying a small group of high-spending players showing signs of financial distress, while leaving the experience of the vast majority of customers...

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Norway Shifts Focus to Early Action on Gambling Harm

Norway Shifts Focus to Early Action on Gambling Harm

Posted by | Mar 29, 2026 | |

Efforts to reduce gambling harm in Norway are moving further upstream, with a new four-year plan built around early action rather than stricter rules. The strategy, covering 2026 to 2029, keeps existing gambling laws, age limits and betting caps in place while directing more attention toward prevention, education and access to support. Officials say the objective is to stop problems before they take hold, placing the protection of vulnerable groups ahead of commercial considerations. The plan frames gambling harm as part of a wider public health challenge, aligning it with broader policies on mental health and youth wellbeing. Improving...

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UK Gambling Market Examines AI Recommendations for Unlicensed Casinos

UK Gambling Market Examines AI Recommendations for Unlicensed Casinos

Posted by | Mar 11, 2026 | |

Recent testing of artificial intelligence chatbots has raised new questions for the regulated gambling market in the United Kingdom, after several systems were able to generate responses recommending offshore online casinos. Under UK law, gambling operators must hold a licence from the UK Gambling Commission to legally offer services to players located in the country. Websites operating without that authorization fall outside the UK’s regulated market and are not permitted to target British customers. The rapid proliferation of AI chatbots as information tools has therefore prompted discussion about how automated systems may influence where players are directed when searching...

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Community Concerns Mount Over 24-Hour Slot Venues

Community Concerns Mount Over 24-Hour Slot Venues

Posted by | Feb 22, 2026 | |

Walk down any struggling high street and the same question tends to surface. What should replace the empty units left behind by departing retailers? In some English towns, the proposed answer, a 24-hour adult gaming centre, has proven deeply divisive. Operators describe these venues as regulated, staff-supervised and alcohol-free leisure spaces that function within clear national rules. Yet in communities such as Bridgwater and Whitby, councillors and residents have raised concerns about anti-social behaviour, late-night footfall and the broader impact of adding another gambling premises to town centres already under pressure. At the heart of the debate lies a...

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