Gambling Commission concludes its series on illegal online gambling
On 6 November 2025, the Gambling Commission published the final report in its four-part series on illegal gambling. The series, which launched in September 2025, aims to understand consumer engagement with illegal online gambling, the associated risks posed and the actions being taken to disrupt it, and has thus far addressed:
- Part 1: Consumer awareness, drivers and motivations
- Part 2: Consumer engagement and trends
- Part 3: Disruption of illegal online gambling
The final report, titled ‘Challenges of estimating the size of the illegal online gambling market’, explores the challenges of quantifying an activity that is, by its nature, hidden. Chief Executive, Andrew Rhodes states that:
“Illegal online gambling remains a serious threat to consumers and to the integrity of the regulated market. While measuring the full scale of the problem is complex, our understanding is growing — and so too is our ability to disrupt illegal operators.”
Challenges to understanding, progress building and shared responsibility
The final report notes the continuing significant methodological challenges of measuring the scale of the illegal online gambling market but also, that although no single estimate of market size has been published, the Gambling Commission has nevertheless, developed a stronger evidence base and clearer understanding of both consumer behaviour and illegal operator tactics. The Gambling Commission emphasises that tackling illegal gambling requires a coordinated response and continued collaboration across government, industry and digital platforms.
Next steps
The Gambling Commission will continue its programme of research, data collection and enforcement activity on illegal gambling, which it identifies as a ‘key strategic priority’ and will provide updates accordingly as it progresses. Annex A of the final report outlines a summary of next steps to improve the reliability of estimates, including options for new sources of data and evidence, alongside an assessment of whether these options will satisfactorily fill key information gaps.