Writing about suicide and gambling is as difficult as talking about it. The gambling industry has long shied away from the topic but an industry that is serious about gambling harm has to face up to talking about its most serious harm. Today, I am writing about suicide because of the tragic death of Oliver…
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has announced that Michael Dugher will be stepping down as Chair with immediate effect, bringing an end to six years at the standards body for the regulated UK betting and gaming industry.
Dugher will be moving into a new role as Head of UK Public Affairs Practice at global advisory firm Brunswick Group. He had been the BGC’s Chair since April 2024 and before that he was the organisation’s founding Chief Executive for over four years.
The change atop the BGC comes following some of the most volatile years in UK gaming, at a time when Dugher led the BGC in rallying back against intense lobbying efforts and increased regulatory pressure.
Dugher, who is a former Labour MP for Barnsley East, played a central role in navigating the standards body through the UK government’s Gambling Act review and the publication of the gambling white paper in 2023.
In what was the most significant evolution in UK gambling since 2005, a much-feared outcome was avoided, which would have seen a full blackout on gambling advertising.
However, there was a tightening of online casino restrictions, specifically when it came to slot stake limits and promotions. Dugher led the BGC campaign warning against these types of restrictions, given that they would handicap the regulated industry against the black market.
The outgoing Chair commented on the work with his peers at the BGC over the past few years, stating he was “immensely proud” of what was achieved, thanking BGC members and current Chief Executive Grainne Hurst, as well as ministers, shadow ministers and officials at DCMS.
He also highlighted how “in an era when there is sadly so much ignorance and snobbery about betting – not helped, in my view, by the decline in the number of working-class people in Parliament – the BGC did a difficult job in navigating the industry through the previous Government’s gambling review”..
Dugher continued: “This resulted in a White Paper that, though not without its challenges, avoided many of the most draconian and disproportionate measures advocated by anti-gambling prohibitionists.
“By embracing change and positively engaging with Government and Parliamentarians, we made the case for an evidence-led approach to regulation and legislation that raised standards, protected jobs and growth as much as possible, and delivered historic deregulation and investment for Britain’s world-leading casino sector – all while keeping customers safe in the regulated industry.
“This approach is increasingly at risk today, given the very worrying growth in harmful gambling in the unregulated online black market.”
Hostility between the BGC and Parliament escalated last year during the debate around the Budget, as warnings from the BGC and UK gambling seemed to fall on deaf ears in Westminster.
The BGC failed to hit home with its message during the debate around taxation, as Remote Gaming Duty was raised from 21% to 40%.
Regulatory hostility hasn’t waned amidst the tax hikes, which many have warned will cripple the profitability of operators, as MPs have seemingly taken aim at High Street betting.
It means that whoever comes in to replace Dugher has little time to settle before they are fending off aggressive political rhetoric and potential negative headlines.
Guiding the industry
The BGC spotlighted that, under Dugher’s leadership, 20 new safer gambling codes containing 100 new standards were introduced and adopted by the standards body. Several charity initiatives, including the Britannia Stakes charity race at Royal Ascot and the Grand National Charity Bet, were also launched.
Hurst praised Dugher for his contribution and for bringing “clarity of purpose, a trusted standing with policymakers and regulators, and a steadfast commitment to championing a responsible, well-regulated betting and gaming industry”.
“Under his leadership, the BGC was firmly established as a credible standards body, uniting a diverse membership around stronger consumer protections and a shared determination to do the right thing, often going beyond regulatory requirements,” added Hurst.
“He guided the industry through the most significant regulatory reform in a generation, helping to deliver the Gambling White Paper and shape its implementation in a way that balances consumer protection with the realities of a major UK leisure industry enjoyed safely by millions each month. His leadership was also pivotal in securing long-overdue casino modernisation and proportionate regulation.
“On a personal note, it has been a genuine privilege to work alongside Michael. He leaves a proud and lasting legacy at the BGC, having strengthened standards, unified the industry and ensured it is well prepared for the challenges ahead.”
Industry praise
Dugher has received thanks from industry operators as well, with Ian Proctor, Chair of Flutter UK & Ireland, stating: “Michael worked tirelessly to help establish the BGC as a strong and authoritative body for the regulated industry.
“During a period of significant policy change, his experience and judgement were invaluable in supporting constructive engagement with Government and the regulator, including through the Gambling Act Review and the delivery of the White Paper.
“I would like to thank Michael for all his hard work and, on behalf of the wider industry, wish him every success in the future.”
There is still no firm launch date for Alberta’s regulated online gambling market, but there is progress this week when Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) published its Standards and Requirements for Internet Gaming (SRIG) on Jan. 13.
Alberta’s iGaming will be run like Ontario’s, wherein the AGLC is the market regulator and the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) is the conduct-and-manage agency that is roughly equivalent to iGaming Ontario (iGO).
Unlike the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), AGLC will be both regulator and operator. It will continue to run Play Alberta, the province’s only regulated iGaming platform, that will soon compete with commercial licensed online sportsbooks and casinos. Per various analyses, Play Alberta currently holds around 25% to 30% of iGaming play in the province.
While AGLC is now accepting applications from operators and suppliers, the commercial online casino and sports betting market launch is still months away. In the meantime, the 85-page draft AGLC standards answer some key questions that were left hanging when the province passed the iGaming Alberta Act in spring 2025.
Tax rate and licensing fees
Applicants to enter Alberta must complete a two-step process where they first register with the AGLC and subsequently sign a commercial agreement with the AiGC.
AGLC confirmed that operators will pay a one-time $50,000 application fee and a $150,000 annual registration fee, and must pay the annual fee for each iGaming site that they run in the province. On the supplier side, platform and gaming system providers will pay a $15,000 annual registration fee while other suppliers, such as payment providers, oddsmakers and Independent Integrity Monitors, will pay $3,000 per year.
Operators, the Canadian Gaming Association and other stakeholders called in the past for Alberta to adopt a similar tax rate to Ontario, which taxes operators at 20% of their non-adjusted gross gaming revenues.
Alberta appears to have heeded that call. While not specified in the standards, Canadian Gaming Business understands that the proposed tax rate is close to the 20% mark. The big difference from Ontario is that Alberta will deduct 3% of GGR before taxing it. A total of 2% will go towards First Nations funding and another 1% will be dedicated to social responsibility initiatives. After those deductions, operators will pay 20% of their remaining GGR to the government.
How can (or can’t) operators advertise?
Once fully registered and paid, operators will be allowed to start advertising and signing up customers immediately in Alberta in the ramp-up to the market actually beginning play.
Like Ontario, Alberta will place some restrictions on how operators can promote themselves. Most notable is a line in the standards that stipulates that “advertising and marketing materials must contain a responsible gambling message.”
While Ontario has certain requirements for operators regarding things such as spending a certain amount on responsible gambling messaging and only using public figures to advertise RG resources, Alberta seems to be proposing that all iGaming advertising must have an RG slant. An Alberta government release issued on Wednesday added that gaming companies will be required to ensure their advertising does not target minors and that pro athletes are not used to promote gambling activities.
Another note dictates that operators must ensure that none of the third parties they use for direct-to-consumer marketing or player referral services also work with unlicensed operators in the province.
AGLC puts player protection top of mind
As promised by Minister Dale Nally during legislative discussion of Bill 48 last year, Alberta’s regulations will place a strong focus on player protection.
Written into the iGaming Alberta Act itself was the use of a centralized self-exclusion system (CSE), a tool similar to the one iGO is aiming to launch for Ontario in mid-2026. AGLC confirmed that all licensed platforms must integrate with the CSE, which will allow every player to opt out of all iGaming sites, all land-based gambling venues or both categories at once. Operators will need to exclude any self-excluded players from all marketing.
The AGLC standards add that operators must also offer players in-app tools such as deposit and wager limits and cool-off periods, and that platforms’ responsible gambling materials must be periodically reviewed and updated to meet requirements and best practices.
Like Ontario does, Alberta will also mandate that operators take steps to prevent betting manipulation. Licensees will also have an obligation to establish controls to identify suspicious betting activity and report it to an Independent Integrity Monitor. AGLC has a detailed list of instructions for what needs to be reported, to whom, and how quickly.
iGaming Corporation recruitment ongoing
Minister Nally’s office told Canadian Gaming Business in November that the intent is to finalize the regulations soon. A spokesperson also added that work was underway to finish building out the AiGC.
AGLC Vice President of Gaming Dan Keene is currently serving as the AiGC’s interim CEO. Consulting firm Odgers Canada is leading recruitment for several other key positions, including chief compliance and operations officer, chief financial officer, chief information officer and general counsel.
The European Commission (EC) has been formally notified of new technical and supervisory powers sought by Spillemyndigheden, Denmark’s Gambling Authority.
On 13 January, Spillemyndigheden submitted a notification to the European Commission’s Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS), initiating the EU-mandated review process for proposed regulatory reforms.
Under EU law, Member State authorities are required to notify the Commission of draft technical regulations to ensure that proposed measures do not breach internal-market principles, competition rules, or EU standards.
The TRIS procedure allows the Commission and other Member States to assess the proportionality and compatibility of national legislation prior to adoption.
Through its submission, Spillemyndigheden has launched a consultation on expanded supervisory and enforcement powers set out under draft provisions of Denmark’s proposed Marketing and Advertising Law.
The draft legislation has yet to receive final approval by the Folketinget. However, the overhaul of Denmark’s marketing and advertising framework appears to carry broad political consensus, with ministers supporting the introduction of sector-specific rules targeting gambling advertising.
Scheduled for implementation from 2027, the law aims to significantly reduce the volume of gambling advertising across Danish media, while introducing new safeguards to ensure advertising is directed exclusively at adult audiences aged 25 and over.
Among the proposed measures is a “whistle-to-whistle” advertising ban, which would prohibit all forms of gambling promotion during live sporting events from 10 minutes before kick-off until 10 minutes after full-time.
Marketing activity will also be restricted from portraying gambling as a lifestyle choice, with draft provisions prohibiting endorsements by celebrities, athletes and influencers across all media channels.
Land-based measures would introduce a ban on gambling advertising within a 200-metre radius of schools and youth education institutions, as well as across public transport networks and associated areas.
Provisions governing social media and affiliate marketing remain under development, with further clarification expected as the legislative process continues.
In its TRIS submission, Spillemyndigheden has requested the Commission’s assessment of new supervisory measures that would expand its remit across media and marketing verticals. This includes establishing a legal basis to block illegal gambling advertising linked to operators not authorised under Denmark’s Gambling Act.
The draft law would also broaden the Authority’s sanctioning powers, introducing clearer principles and criteria for calculating fines and clarifying its authority to issue administrative injunctions in cases of regulatory breaches.
For land-based operations, Spillemyndigheden has further requested oversight on whether it may revise interpretations of certain gambling definitions under the Danish Gambling Act of 2012 — notably proposals to merge the classifications of gaming shops and gaming halls into a simplified regulatory framework for stakeholders.
Responsibility for steering the final legislative process will fall to Denmark’s newly appointed Tax Minister, Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen, who has publicly backed stronger protections for Danish youth audiences and consumers.
Notably, the Folketinget has already rejected proposals to introduce a blanket ban on gambling advertising and sports sponsorship, measures which can no longer be tabled under the current process.
The European Commission has set a standstill deadline of 14 April to respond to Spillemyndigheden’s TRIS notification.
The suicide of Oliver Long (36) has shone a light on the extent of illegal gambling in the UK, including calls for the Gambling Commission to do more to take on the black market and websites deliberalty promoting illegal casinos.
A report by East Sussex Corner Laura Bradford into Long’s death did not name gambling, whether legal or not, as a determining factor of the suicide. However, Long’s sister, Chloe, has argued against this, citing her brother’s repeated use of illegal gambling sites and the mental health impacts of gambling addiction were the principal causes of his tragic death.
Long had been suffering from a gambling addiction problem while using regulated, licensed websites, but eventually opted to self-exclude himself from the legal industry via GamStop, the online national self-exclusion service.
Despite these efforts, Chloe Long shared that her brother was “targeted by these illicit, illegal black market sites”. She also remarked that illegal casinos ‘lured him in’ after he had successfully excluded himself from every licensed operator in the UK in a bid to battle his gambling addiction.
Oliver Long’s suicide and the coverage it has received in the mainstream UK press, covered by the likes of The Guardian and Sky News, has brought the topic of illegal gambling to the forefront ot a time of extensive regulatory and political discussion around betting in the country.
The rise of ‘non-Gamstop’ illegal casinos
The country’s regulated industry has been arguing that an extensive black market has been posing both a risk to consumers and to the legal industry, and the economic contribution it makes, for some time.
In recent years, illegal casinos billing themselves as ‘non-Gamstop casinos’ have risen in prominence. These platforms explicitly target self-excluded gamblers like oiver Long, and often offer large bonuses and sign-up offers, while masquerading as UKGC-licensed businesses.
The Commission has been stepping up its efforts against the black market, according to the regulator. For example, last year it published a four part series explaining the research it was conducting into the black market and the characteristics of consumers who use it.
Gamstop has also taken note. Data published by the service last year revealed that around one-in-10 self-excluded gamblers admitted using illicit websites – lining up with data routinely cited by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) that the black market accounts for around 10% of annual UK gambling volume.
The emergence of these non-Gamstop casinos was noted during the hearing at East Sussex coroner’s court yesterday, as reported by The Guardian and BBC Sport.
UKGC Executive Director, Tim Miller, told the court that non-Gamstop gambling sites are run by ‘criminal networks’ often linked with ‘terrorist and organised crime ‘, and deliberately ‘target people who are already experiencing harm’.
Responding to SBC News, a UKGC spokesperson issued the following statement:
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Oliver Long and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.
The targeting of vulnerable people by illegal gambling operators is a criminal act. Unlicensed operators deliberately seek to evade protections such as GamStop and can pose serious risks to consumers. It is a threat that we take seriously.
“Since April 2024, our Illegal Markets team has issued more than 3,100 cease-and-desist and disruption notices, referred nearly 450,000 illegal URLs to search engines, and achieved almost 290,000 removals.
“We are also working with domain registrars, hosting providers, social media platforms and international partners to suspend domains, disrupt payment flows, tackle aggressive marketing and prevent illegal sites from being accessed from Great Britain. Alongside that we have active prosecutions currently going through the criminal justice system.”
Regulated industry not off the hook
Though Oliver Long’s death has shone a light on illegal gambling and the significant harm it can cause, this does not mean that the regulated industry is out of the regulatory woods, as it too finds itself routinely singled out for significant player protection failings.
Suicides linked to addiction have previously shaped the discourse and regulatory outcomes of UK gambling. In 2022, the inquest into the suicide of 24-year-old student Jack Ritchie in 2017 saw Sheffield coroner David Urpeth conclude that “information and treatment gaps had been woefully inadequate” and had failed to meet Ritchie’s needs as a victim of gambling addiction.
In Parliament, former DCMS undersecretary and gambling minister Chris Philp noted that the inquiry had exposed “system-wide failures” across all elements of gambling protection — including treatment, intervention, harm prevention, and regulatory controls.
The inquiry into Jack Ritchie’s death is widely regarded as a turning point in the UK’s Gambling Review, initiated in 2020, and in the government’s subsequent overhaul of gambling addiction as a public health issue.
Jack’s parents, Liz and Charles Ritchie, subsequently founded the charity Gambling with Lives in 2019 to support other bereaved families and campaign for stricter regulations. Their campaign continues to call for a direct intervention on gambling advertising and for tougher regulatory actions on gambling’s highest risk products.
As mentioned above, the regulated gambling industry often cites the black market as a risk associated with over-regulation and over-taxation. Concerns have been raised by the Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) which made an observation about black market encroachment in its assessment of the Autumn Budget, in which gambling taxes were significantly hiked.
Commission points to joint-approach
However, the industry cannot afford to pass the buck of responsibility onto the black market and to regulatory action against it. Regulated bookmakers need to make sure their player protection, behaviour monitoring and harm prevention measures are working to the highest standard to ensure the worst case scenario of gambling harm does not occur.
Also, while the taxes increased in the Autumn Budget – set to come into effect form April 2026 this year – were met with disappointment from the industry, the budget did also include a commitment to provide the UKGC with millions in funding to tackle black market activity.
The UKGC’s spokesperson told SBC News: “Tackling unlicensed gambling requires a joined-up approach – between the Commission, other domestic and international regulators, GamStop, licensed operators, technology platforms, financial sectors and enforcement bodies – and we will continue to strengthen that collaboration to better protect consumers.
“Future changes will also enable us to continue to grow our efforts in tackling the unlicensed market. We welcome the commitment in the recent Budget to support our efforts to tackle illegal gambling.
“The investment of £26 million over the next three years will allow the Commission to build on and strengthen the work that we have already undertaken to disrupt illegal operators to protect consumers.
“In addition, the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill will grant the Commission greater powers to act to block IP addresses and domain names linked to illegal websites.”
The conversations around illegal gambling and the impact of gambling related harm in the UK come amidst a large number of Labour MPs, along with members of other parties, calling for Keir Starmer’s government to take another look at gambling regulations. This includes the potential for new enforcements and tougher restrictions, particularly around retail gaming.
All public post-secondary institutions in New Jersey are now mandated to provide on-campus education about gambling risks and how to access problem gambling supports.
Gov. Phil Murphy signed the bill that requires every Garden State public college and university to invite the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) onto campus at least once per semester to provide in-person resources, effective immediately.
“Today’s signing demonstrates our continued commitment to promoting responsible gaming and supporting the well-being of students across New Jersey,” said Murphy in a public release. “By connecting campus communities with expert resources, we’re taking proactive steps to address gambling-related harm before it takes root.”
New Jersey bill aims to educate vulnerable demographic
The aim of the legislation, which passed both chambers of the New Jersey legislature by unanimous votes and was sent to Murphy in December, is to educate students on gambling risks and provide ..
Last year gamblers and operators alike experienced a significant change in how problem gambling support is provided across the U.S., as the National Council on Problem Gambling’s lost control ofthe 1-800-GAMBLER number.
Amid a dispute between the licensee NCPG and the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), which has owned 1-800-GAMBLER since the 1980s, a New Jersey judge ruled in September that the NCPG must cease using the number or mark as of Sept. 29, leaving it in the exclusive control of the CCGNJ.
How did the issue affect major gaming operators? The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) heard from several about the issue at a recent meeting.
Who you gonna call?
After the court verdict, the NCPG returned to using its old national problem gambling helpline number, 1-800-522-4700. It means that there are now two national hotlines for gambling support, each billed by its owner as thesole national problem gambling helpline.
That, BetMGM Director of Responsible Gami..
In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Charlie Horner is joined by SBC Editor-at-Large Ted Menmuir and SBC News Editor Ted Orme-Claye as the trio unpack the UK gambling sector’s latest reputational reckoning and what a new public opinion report means for regulation, reform and trust in 2026. Tune in to today’s episode…
Almost half of Britons would like to see the gambling industry shrink, according to new research commissioned by anti-gambling pressure group the Coalition to End Gambling Advertising, and a clear majority support tightened regulation. Context: The research was conducted by the think tank More in Common and funded by the Coalition to End Gambling Advertising,…
FanDuel is being ordered by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to pay a hefty penalty for the operator’s failure to detect and report suspicious betting activity.
On Thursday, the AGCO ordered FanDuel Canada to pay a $350,000 penalty following a probe that identified wagers placed in Ontario that indicated instances of match-fixing.
The probe centered around 144 wagers placed between October 2024 and November 2024 by three Ontario player accounts on Czech Table Tennis Star Series matches. The AGCO’s investigation found that FanDuel failed to take proper action, allowing the three player accounts to place suspicious wagers for several weeks. According to the AGCO, FanDuel did not meet its obligations to identify unusual and suspicious betting behavior.
“While we are disappointed with the decision made by the AGCO to issue this fine, we are unwavering in our commitment to working with them to identify areas of integrity concerns and protect sports from those who seek to undermine fair competition and the games we love,” said a FanDuel spokesperson in a statement to Canadian Gaming Business.
The AGO’s investigation into the suspicious wagering activity found that FanDuel should have detected and taken action against instances of synchronized wagering across the three player accounts that led to unusual shifts in betting lines on two specific athletes.
The AGCO’s reporting requirements for suspicious activity
The AGCO requires licensed operators to report all suspicious wagering activity to Independent Integrity Monitors that share the unusual behavior with other operators in the province, allowing them to monitor their own services to determine whether illicit wagering is also taking place on their platforms. The Independent Integrity Monitors also share suspicious betting activity reported by operators to leagues and governing bodies.
“In an era of heightened scrutiny on sports integrity, iGaming operators must be vigilant and proactive in detecting suspicious betting activity and taking appropriate steps to protect their patrons,” said AGCO CEO Dr. Karin Schnarr. “We will continue to hold all regulated operators accountable to these standards. Protecting fair play is essential to maintaining public trust.”
FanDuel believes it took the necessary reporting steps
FanDuel is taking a different tone compared to the AGCO by contending that it took the necessary steps in detecting and reporting the unusual betting behavior in Ontario. FanDuel pointed to its integrity monitoring system that it said properly detected the wagers.
“Our integrity monitoring program enabled us to be the only operator to proactively identify, investigate and report this suspicious activity to integrity monitors. FanDuel then proactively reported this activity to the AGCO,” continued the Flutter-owned operator.
The company also voiced its displeasure the AGCO’s decision to levy a monetary penalty.
“As an operator that prides itself on the trust we have built with our stakeholders, we do not feel that this action accurately reflects the commitment and investment we have consistently demonstrated regarding protecting the industry, our customers, and the integrity of sport,” added FanDuel. “We are also concerned it could discourage the industry from engaging in best efforts to identify, investigate, and report on irregular activity.”
FanDuel has the opportunity to appeal the AGCO’s monetary penalty. The operator can submit an appeal within 15 days to the License Appeal Tribunal (LAT), which is independent of the AGCO. Entities that appeal monetary penalties typically receive a decision from the LAT within 40 days of appeal submission, with hearings on the matter also on the table.
FanDuel has not yet made a decision on whether it will appeal the AGCO’s penalty.
AGCO penalizes another licensed sports betting operator
The AGCO also recently levied a monetary penalty against theScore.
The commission imposed a $105,000 penalty for theScore failing to adhere to responsible gaming and player protection standards. An AGCO probe determined that theScore failed to detect potential gambling-related harm when a customer wagered $2.5 million with the operator, resulting in roughly $230,000 in losses over an eight-month period.