The CEO of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), Andrew Rhodes, is stepping down from the leadership role in the midst of the British betting sector’s biggest readjustment in decades. Rhodes’ departure from the Commission was announced by the regulator early this afternoon, with his resignation date confirmed as 30 April 2026. This comes 30 days after the HM Treasury’s new…
The UK government announced its Illegal Gambling Taskforce last week with the minimal amount of fanfare – it was done via a 71-word LinkedIn post, without even a press release – and a minimal amount of detail on who sits on the Taskforce, how it will be funded or what its powers are to counter illegal…
In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, host and SBC Media Manager Charlie Horner is joined by SBC Editor-at-Large Ted Menmuir alongside a special guest, Tamsin Blow, Partner in the Litigation and Arbitration Group at CMS and a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL), to break down the landmark Betfair Court of Appeal ruling…
Benchmarking player protection across Africa Across Africa, gambling regulation and player protection are evolving at pace. New laws, emerging regulators, and growing political focus have placed safer gambling firmly on the agenda. Yet progress is uneven. While some markets are moving quickly toward modern frameworks, others remain constrained by unclear rules, limited enforcement, and the…
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 delve into the Betting and Gaming Council’s latest research on declining advertising spend, unpacking what it reveals about operator confidence, political pressure and the wider impact on the…
In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Charlie Horner is joined by SBC Editor-at-Large Ted Menmuir and iGaming Expert Editor Joe Streeter as the trio discuss the UK government’s latest crackdown on illegal gambling and what it really means for the fight against the black market. Tune in to today’s episode to find…
Romania’s regulator, ONJN, has asked the Ministry of Finance to take emergency measures and revamp the country’s self-exclusion framework.
ONJN’s President, Vlad-Cristian Soare, announced that they’ve put forward a proposal for an emergency ordinance (OUG) to iron all current existing gaps in Romania’s gambling legislature regarding player safety.
An OUG is usually reserved for extraordinary regulations that cannot be subject to delay, addressing matters that require urgent attention like natural disasters or economic crises – signalling that the ONJN is potentially moving to paint problem gambling as a national health matter.
Soare, who became the ONJN President in 2025 after a massive tax hole scandal saw the previous President step down, commented: “I promised that self-exclusion will not remain a paper project, as I found it when I took office, but will be implemented in three stages: functioning within the current regulatory framework (already implemented), legislative amendment to remove existing dysfunctions and implementing a modern IT solution (currently being implemented).”
Bringing self-exclusion into the modern era
In his LinkedIn post, Soare highlighted in detail what the ONJN is seeking to achieve with the help of the Ministry of Finance, listing some major improvements in Romania’s self-exclusion framework.
For one, the ONJN wants clearly defined self-exclusion periods for players to choose out from, including an indefinite option and cool-off periods in which self-exclusion cannot be withdrawn – a staple of player protection legislation across multiple mature EU gambling markets.
The ONJN also wants mandatory provisions that obligate operators to recover the deposits made by players who have been self-excluded but still given access to gambling services regardless.
Sanctions envisioned for gambling providers who have been found to be in breach of self-exclusion rules could be facing sanctions of between 50,000 and 100,000 lei (£8.5k – £17k), with repeated or serious non-compliance offences potentially escalating to license suspensions.
The proposed changes also lay the foundation for a truly centralised and simplified self-exclusion network, which the ONJN can enforce effectively against both online and land-based gambling providers.
For that reason, besides simplifying self-exclusion terminology to minimise confusion for players, the regulator is also looking to feature prominent self-exclusion information across online gambling websites and roll out specialised QR codes across gambling halls which would lead to the same national self-exclusion resources.
Lastly, Soare noted that he also seeks to break the ONJN’s exclusivity of its remit over gambling regulation and extend it over to Romanian Police authorities as well, while also being in active talks with the National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics to develop a brand new modernised and cost-effective IT network.
A 40% year-over-year uptick in young people self-excluding from online gambling has been recorded by Gamstop.
The increase relates to individuals aged 16-24 and covers the six-month period ending 31 December 2025. This age group, according to the self-exclusion scheme, represents 29% of all total new registrations.
More details revealed that 38% of under-25s prefer to self-exclude for a duration of six months. For all total registrations, the most preferred option (47%) is a five-year self-exclusion.
For those choosing five years, Gamstop introduced an additional auto-renewal option at the end of 2024, with the scheme highlighting that the option’s popularity has been steadily climbing, and that at the end of 2025 it was selected by more than 50% of five-year exclusions for the first time since its introduction.
These stats are, of course, relating to online gambling. In addition, Gamstop has also unveiled its new Multi Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme for Betting Shops (MOSES) identity, which rebrands Gamstop Betting Shops and integrates better with its online self-exclusion service.
This improved integration will replace the old method of having to self-exclude from retail venues via phone, with customers instead being able to do so online.
MOSES offers a maximum self-exclusion option of 18 months, currently covering around 6,000 retail shops and more than 60 operators, and more than 9,000 people on the register.
Fiona Palmer, CEO of The Gamstop Group, which operates both MOSES and Gamstop Online, said: “Our brand refresh reflects the evolution of Gamstop and will deliver clarity, consistency and accessibility while preserving the trust and integrity built over the last eight years since we launched.
“The continued year-on-year growth in registrations highlights the ongoing and increasing need for effective self-exclusion tools. The rise in take-up of our auto-renewal option, in particular, shows that many consumers are seeking longer-term support and recognise the value of self-exclusion in helping them manage their gambling.”
The Sejm of Poland has received a bill to end “Patostreaming”, which includes articles citing that the promotion of online gambling by influences should be treated as a criminal offence.
Patostreaming is recognised as a new term to categorise criminal offences related to the broadcasting of online violence, abuse and sexually degrading content.
In its review, the Sejm must consider changes to the Penal Code to authorise the bill introducing new conditions on online abuse and the streaming of gambling content.
KO support
The bill carries the backing of ministers of Poland’s new Civic Coalition (KO) government, formed in late 2025 by the union of the Citizens Platform (PO), Modern (Nowoczesna) and the Polish Initiative (iPL).
Supporters call for clearer enforcement powers to treat the online broadcasting of serious criminal acts as a punishable offence, aligning digital conduct with crimes already sanctioned offline.
If adopted, the legislation would introduce prison sentences ranging from three months to five years for individuals who publicly share real or staged content depicting serious criminal acts via online platforms.
The same penalty range would also apply to influencers found to be illegally promoting online gambling activity that remains heavily restricted under Poland’s state-controlled gambling regime.
KO ministers have framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to strengthen online protections for Polish youth, citing rising exposure to violent digital content and illegal gambling promotions across social media platforms.
In its legislative review, the Sejm is expected to place particular emphasis on child and adolescent safeguards, with parliamentary committees examining how criminal provisions can be used to curb harmful online environments that attract minors.
Dr Justyna Grusza-Głębicka,
Providing a legal assessment to SBC News of the proposed reforms, Dr Justyna Grusza-Głębicka, a specialist in Polish gambling and digital law, noted that the draft introduces a significant expansion of criminal liability into the online content sphere.
She explained: “The proposed new Article 255b would criminalise the public dissemination of audiovisual content that depicts, praises or simulates the commission of criminal offences — including fiscal offences related to illegal gambling via online platforms and streaming services.
“In practice, this means that streamers, influencers and potentially even the platforms themselves could face criminal liability for promoting or normalising illegal gambling activity, particularly where such content is accessible to minors.
“This reflects a noticeable shift in approach — from administrative and regulatory enforcement towards the use of criminal law instruments, which raises important questions about proportionality and legal certainty.”
Bigger picture on Youth Protections
The Penal Code initiative sees Polish politics continue to focus on youth-focused regulatory protections. At the close of 2025, the Sejm received a separate bill proposing new legal interpretations for gaming transactions and loot box mechanics involving minors, with amendments seeking to classify in-game loot boxes as a form of gambling activity.
The loot box decree calls on Poland to introduce the strictest controls on in-game purchases in Europe, including enhanced age-verification requirements, spending limits and individual authorisation of loot boxes for specific games.
Beyond gaming, Poland’s Ministry of Digital Affairs has also confirmed it will join other EU states in reviewing social media regulations for teenage users/audiences, including consideration of an outright ban on under-16s – a measure that carries favourability in France and Greece.
Blowback effect
Dr Grusza-Głębicka beelives that Polish ministers are responding “to enforcement challenges in a borderless digital environment”. As a result, legislators are increasingly targeting the wider digital ecosystem advertisers, content creators and promoters rather than organisers alone.
However, she cautions that without precise legal definitions, the reforms could have a blowback effect on legitimate online marketing practices, and make it more difficult to promote legal operators.
“There is no doubt that concrete steps must be taken to tighten the legal framework and to effectively prevent minors and other vulnerable groups from being drawn into illegal online gambling.
“If adopted in its current form, the draft may have a chilling effect on legitimate content creators and could blur the line between illegal gambling promotion and the marketing activities of lawful, licensed operators, especially in a digital and cross-border context.”
UK Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross has formed a specialised Illegal Gambling Taskforce to fend off the black market.
The formulation of the task force comes after years of warning by the regulated industry that black market operators are becoming increasingly prevalent in the UK.
This was raised multiple times during the debate around industry taxes last year, with operators arguing that over-taxation would lead to licenced operators taking measures that could push customers to the black market.
However, when the government ultimately put up taxes from 21% to 40% on online gaming (from April 2026) and gaming in general, except retail, from 15% to 21% (from April 2027), it included a commitment to investing money into combating the black market.
Although the taxes have yet to come into effect, it could be expected that the task force will receive some gambling tax-based backing. The Baroness-led taskforce may be an early fruit of the government’s planned anti-black market labour.
On the Department for Culture, Media and Sport LinkedIn profile, Baroness Twycross said: “Our Taskforce will work together over the next year to ensure that people who wish to gamble can do so safely, with the right protections in place.”
BGC backs task force
Some important details were also shared on LinkedIn by Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), who was in attendance at the taskforce’s launch event.
Hurst outlined that the government has clearly set out its mission, which apparently involves “uniting key players across the industry and beyond, including tech companies and payment providers.” At this time, however, not much else has been revealed about the initiative.
Other than that, Hurst reminded of the scope of the black market in the UK – with 1.5 million people staking up to £4.3bn on it.
The severity of the problem has also been previously highlighted in reports from various organisations, such as Deal Me Out (DMO), a gambling harm prevention and education organisation.
A substantial survey from April last year drew answers from a UK pool of 1250 children, 300 adults and 10 gambling content creators, finding out that more than £10m has been deposited into the black market by adult consumers alone.
Breaking down the numbers further, £3.6m of the above amount was staked by individuals who are suffering from problem gambling, £1.9m from general consumers, and £5.1m from the 10 content creators – who, surprisingly or not, were paid to market illegal gambling websites.
DMO further states that 67% of respondents told them that they were self-excluded via Gamstop from licensed betting sites – the Ladbrokes, Corals, Paddy Powers and bet365s etc of the UK gaming sector – but continued gambling with black market firms.
Studies like those from DMO, while more limited in scope than those by the government or Gambling Commission, indicate that there is an extensive black market in the UK that requires attention.
Gamstop itself also revealed last year that around one-in-10 self excluded gamblers admit to regularly using offshore, unlicensed ‘non-Gamstop casinos’. This would align with the stat often cited by the BGC and others that around 10% of UK gambling volume takes place within illegal markets.
“While any proposal to work against the harmful black market is obviously welcome, it’s going to be an uphill battle,” the BGC’s Hurst wrote on LinkedIn. “Already the scale of it is huge – 1.5m Brits stake up to £4.3bn on the black market each year.
“Unfortunately, the significant tax rises on our sector will inevitably drive even more consumers out of the regulated market and into the hands of unscrupulous illegal operators.
“They are so incredibly harmful because they have no age checks, no safer gambling tools and no consumer protections. Nonetheless, it was good to see the Government bring people together to get talking about the subject. And to acknowledge the sheer scale of the problems we now face.”
Not everyone is convinced of the extent of black market activity, not necessarily in the UK but across other markets. In the Nordics, where industry cases about the black market are similarly used to argue against stricter regulations and in favour of market liberalisations, academics have doubted the extent of illicit activity.