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for players to choose out from, including an indefinite option and cool-off periods in which self-exclusion cannot be withdrawn – a staple of player protection legislation across multiple mature EU gambling markets.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.
Six operators have been hit with enforcement actions for breaching self-exclusion compliance rules in Australia.
The investigations conducted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) affect operators Tabcorp, LightningBet, Betfocus, TempleBet, Picklebet and BetChamps.
All compliance failures were related to people registered on BetStop, Australia’s national self-exclusion scheme, varying from allowing self-excluded persons to access wagering services, to targeting such individuals with marketing. All breaches occurred in 2024.
The largest operator in Australia in terms of retail presence, Tabcorp, has accepted a penalty of AU$112.7k (£57.5k), in addition to a Federal Court-enforceable agreement to conduct a third-party review of its customer verification processes in place and further staff training on self-exclusion.
Betfocus, LightningBet and TempleBet have been given remedial directions by the regulator, which obligates them to conduct an independent audit of their player safety checks and follow through on any resulting recommendations – with further compliance failure leading to potential civil penalties.
A formal warning has been issued to BetChamps, while the ACMA is in the process of finalising the enforcement action against Picklebet.
Carolyn Lidgerwood, ACMA member, commented: “The national self-exclusion register is designed to help people who are trying to avoid gambling services and stop gambling, but self-exclusion only works if wagering providers follow the rules.
“These rules have been in place for more than two years and wagering providers should be taking their responsibilities seriously.
“When people decide to self-exclude themselves from online and telephone gambling, they trust the system to protect them from gambling harm. These investigations have found that these companies broke that trust and let people down.
“All licensed wagering providers need to be aware that the ACMA is investigating compliance and enforcing the rules. Gambling companies must have effective systems in place to ensure self-excluded people cannot gamble with them.”
Launched in 2023, BetStop is currently undergoing a statutory review expected early 2026, which aims to assess the effectiveness of the register and address critical operational deficiencies such as some BetStop-registered players still receiving gambling marketing.
This review ties in with ongoing debates on wider reforms in the Australian gambling legislature, namely the still-to-be implemented 31 recommendations from the Murphy report, devised by the late Peta Murphy.
The document suggests that a unified gambling regulator is created to end the current supervisory fragmentation of the Australian market, with the sole entity taking charge of the national problem gambling projects such as BetStop as well.
The veracity of black market size estimates has been the topic of much debate in recent years with some pouring scorn on the most outlandish estimates of its size. This week, a group of academics from the Nordic region released research that concludes “there is no gold standard or one reliable method to conclusively measure…
European and Nordic authorities require an expanded capacity and greater regulatory coordination to understand the black market on online gambling, an academic review claims.
This advice leads the findings of a ‘scoping review’ published in PLOS One, noting that current efforts to measure the size and scope of offshore gambling markets across Nordic jurisdictions are marred by data gaps, unclear methodologies that can lead to political fallouts.
Conducted by researchers from universities and public health institutes in Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, the review covered 32 studies between 2010 and 2024.
As independent researchers, the team found that “there is no gold standard or one reliable method to conclusively measure offshore gambling.”
Instead, the authors conclude that “methodological choices, data resources that have been used, and political interests can have an effect on the kinds of estimates that are produced.”
The report observes that most estimates, whether reported by governments, regulators, or industry groups, are derived from a single source.
This source is H2 Gambling Capital, a private data provider widely cited by the regulated industry, but which the Nordic academics believe has limited transparency.
“A significant part of studies included in this review made use of data from H2 gambling capital,” the authors write, “even regulators are not fully aware of metrics and assumptions based on which these estimates are made.”
The study’s authors — Virve Marionneau (University of Helsinki), Søren Kristiansen (Aalborg University), Tomi Roukka (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare), and Håkan Wall (Karolinska Institute) — observe that offshore gambling is “a politically sensitive topic wrought with uncertainties.”
Academics question offshore argument
The problem is not merely academic. The study observed that “offshore estimates are likely to be political tools.”
The authors highlight how the gambling industry, in particular, has “actively attempted to control the narrative over channelling rates within the Nordic countries,” often by releasing their own studies showing rising offshore participation to resist tighter regulation.
One Swedish report included in the review assumed that users of unlicensed websites spend 10–20 times more than those on legal platforms — a bold figure for which the researchers found “no empirical basis nor conclusive descriptions on how these were determined.”
Such assumptions, the authors suggest, can significantly skew perceptions of the so-called black market, inflating its threat.
“Industry-produced estimates of offshore gambling may be higher than government-produced figures,” the authors write.
They note that “these estimates diverged from governmental estimates” due in part to differing methodologies, and caution against letting such figures shape policy uncritically.
“Evidence-based policy should not be based on methodologically ambiguous evidence or estimates that lack transparency.”
The researchers also warn against viewing offshore and onshore markets as entirely distinct. “Offshore gambling is therefore not a separate market segment from onshore gambling,” the report explains.
A large portion of users participate in both. In Finland, for instance, “98% of individuals reporting offshore gambling also gamble within the regulated market,” with around 37% of their total gambling spending still occurring onshore.
Product types also matter. “Offshore consumption typically consists of the most harmful gambling products, including fast-paced online casino products and betting (including live betting),” the authors write, adding that these activities are overrepresented in gambling harm statistics.
More light needed on black market
The academics note that the mere presence of the fast-paced products discussed above on black market platforms has frequently been used to justify their availability within regulated systems — despite the risks being the same.
In terms of solutions, the research team makes several modest but clear recommendations. Chief among them is the need for “a transparent and scientifically validated measurement tool” to improve the evidence base.
They urge a “multi-method analysis,” combining population surveys, transaction data, and other indicators, including help-seeking statistics. Bank data, while legally sensitive, “could provide additional insight,” the report says, and could be technically feasible given the existing role of banks in payment blocking systems.
Ultimately, the report delivers a sober message: the offshore gambling debate is currently shaped more by assumptions than evidence.
“Despite the political importance of channeling,” the authors note, “it is surprisingly unclear how and if we can measure developments in the unregulated market.”
Until that changes, European regulators may continue to base major decisions on data that is partial, outdated—or simply invented.
A new toolkit has been revealed at the University of Bristol that aims to help students deal with their problem gambling.
Designed by Benjamin Parker and Jordan White, graduates from the same university, the ‘From Freshers’ Week to Losing Streak’ toolkit is educational in nature, offering guidance, practical advice and acts as an awareness campaign for university staff to better understand gambling harms and offer improved support.
White remarked: “As well as strengthening access to support, we want students to reflect and question their own relationship with gambling, and feel empowered to have conversations with their friends about it.
“People only talk about the wins, not about the losses, and often wait until they are in crisis before seeking help. But there are resources available for people who want to feel more educated and informed on the topic.”
Both creators have described the toolkit as easily integratable into existing university infrastructure, acting as a single hub to collect information on specialist services and compulsive gambling disorders.
“Lots of my mates gambled, and I had a suspicion that it was happening all the time,” said toolkit co-founder Parker.
“When we investigated university student gambling and discovered how pervasive gambling harms are, we felt we had to develop a solution. There is a massive gap between the awareness of universities and the scale of the problem.”
Parker and White researched the topic thanks to their university’s Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms. They got £8,000 in funding from Runway – another University of Bristol initiative that subsidises student-led startups – and are now working with the Ara Recovery For All charity, which helps those suffering from gambling harms in the South West and Wales.
Perhaps obvious from its dedicated gambling harms hub, the University of Bristol has historically been heavily involved with research into problem gambling and reducing its societal impact.
The educational institution is vigilantly following the advertising space, with some of its researchers having previously submitted complaints to the UK Advertising Standards Authority, which the regulator has subsequently acted upon.
Lastly, readers will remember a wide-scale campaign from local councils last year that demanded more rights when it comes to licensing permits for land-based bookmakers within their jurisdictions.
Politicians like Paulette Hamilton, MP for Birmingham Edmonton, have previously raised concerns about the prevalence of betting shops in poverty-struck areas, basing their arguments on previous studies by the University of Bristol which concluded that such venues are 10 times more likely to be found in deprived towns than affluent areas.
Concerns have been raised in the Republic of Ireland that gambling harms/risks are much more likely among those exposed to gambling as children.
The warning comes from research conducted by the Behavioural Research Unit of The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) commissioned by Ireland’s Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
Research draws links between early exposure to gambling as a factor that significantly increases the risk of problem gambling in adulthood. As such, Irish authorities are warned to tighten youth protections in the ongoing implementation of sweeping legislative reforms of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
Based on anonymous responses from a nationally representative sample of more than 1,600 adults, ESRI researchers examined how childhood gambling behaviour and experiences can be correlated to adult gambling outcomes.
Research considers factors such as societal attitudes, education, parental controls and household customs in the correlation of how youth experiences correlate to adult outcomes as results point to what the institute describes as a “clear and persistent link between early normalisation of gambling and later harm.”
Individuals who reported gambling before the age of 18 were almost twice as likely to experience problem gambling in later life. Meanwhile, having a parent who gambled increased the risk by around one third, with heavy parental gambling nearly doubling the likelihood of gambling-related harm.
Where both factors were present, the effects were significantly amplified as research identified that “individuals were four times more likely to suffer from problem gambling as adults.”
Youth exposure & damaging consequences
Of utmost concern, underage participation was shown to be widespread across Irish society. Almost two-thirds of respondents said they had engaged in some form of gambling before turning 18.
The products most commonly cited as “unchecked engagement” included slot machines, national lottery products, scratch cards and informal bets amongst friends.
Dr Shane Timmons, Senior Research Officer at the ESRI and lead author of the report, warned that the data demonstrates how “deeply childhood exposure can shape gambling behaviour over a lifetime.”
“These results show that gambling is not a harmless pastime when introduced at a young age. Gambling has measurable and damaging consequences well into adulthood,” Timmons said.
“When gambling becomes normalised in childhood, it alters attitudes to risk, money and reward in ways that significantly increase the chance of later harm.”
He added that the findings must be viewed against the broader scale of the issue in Ireland: “Our best estimate suggests that around one in 30 adults in Ireland now struggles with problem gambling.
“When combined with the strong influence of early exposure identified in this research, it presents a compelling case for robust regulation aimed specifically at protecting young people from gambling environments, marketing and products.”
The study also identified that certain forms of childhood gambling including sports betting, casino-style games and digital loot boxes were linked to higher long-term risk, reflecting the growing role of online platforms and gamified products in shaping youth engagement with gambling. This is a concern shared with other EU authorities.
GRAI moves to new agenda
The publication arrives at a critical moment for Ireland’s gambling sector following the enactment of the Gambling Regulation Act in 2024, which introduced Ireland’s regulatory framework on gambling to overhaul centuries old liabilities.
The adoption and enforcement of the Act is led by the GRAI as a new regulatory agency responsible for gambling licences, market conduct and consumer safeguards.
Establishing its authority in 2025, the GRAI and the Dáil moved to a new agenda on the governance of gambling focused on enhancing consumer protection standards and settling on advertising and sponsorship practices.
The ESRI has urged the GRAI to pursue tougher advertising and marketing controls alongside stricter age-verification requirements across both online and land-based gambling.
However, the research stresses that regulation must go further — adopting a more nuanced approach that removes gambling’s appeal to youth audiences while ensuring parents are equipped with education tools to identify early signs of risk and harm.
Anne Marie Caulfield: GRAI
GRAI CEO, Anne Marie Caulfield, said the ESRI’s findings reinforce the urgency of embedding youth protection at the core of the new regulatory system.
“This research provides clear, evidence-based confirmation of the long-term harms that can arise when children are exposed to gambling,” Caulfield said. “It shows that the impact is not short-lived — it follows individuals into adulthood, affecting financial stability, wellbeing and family life.”
She added that one of the regulator’s central objectives is to prevent gambling from becoming a routine or socially embedded activity for younger generations.
“A well-regulated gambling sector must prioritise safeguarding children and those vulnerable to harm. That means strong age-verification systems, meaningful limits on marketing exposure, and ensuring that gambling products are not designed or promoted in ways that appeal to young people.”
No to Normalisation
To coincide with the research release, the GRAI has published guidance for parents, developed in collaboration with Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) Addiction Services, aimed at helping families discuss gambling risks and recognise early warning signs of harmful behaviour.
However, while Ireland’s regulatory regime has formally relaunched, key policy decisions remain outstanding. The GRAI has yet to publish its full recommendations on gambling advertising restrictions, sponsorship rules and targeted youth protections.
Early indications from ministers in the Dáil suggest Ireland’s regulatory direction will broadly align with aspects of the UK’s post-Gambling Act review, particularly in areas such as advertising oversight, consumer safeguards and harm-prevention tools.
However, Irish MPs have consistently stressed their determination to avoid what they describe as the “normalisation of gambling in society” that has been witnessed in the UK, a theme that sits at the heart of the ESRI’s findings on childhood exposure.
With licensing processes now underway and secondary regulations in development, the ESRI report is expected to feed directly into forthcoming consultations on advertising codes, youth protections and enforcement priorities.