Study: Why does illegal gambling still attract players?
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22 Sep 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has just published the first part of an ambitious study on the illegal online gambling market. The aim is to understand why some consumers choose unregulated platforms despite the risks.
A market deemed dangerous and criminal
‘The illegal online market is dangerous, unfair and criminal. That is why the Commission has invested heavily in this area in recent years,’ warns Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Commission.
According to him, research is an indispensable tool for strengthening the means of combating this problem. Since April 2024, the organisation says it has increased its disruption actions against these unauthorised sites tenfold, with a clear desire to protect consumers and preserve confidence in the legal sector.
The motivations behind choosing the illegal market
What drives people to use banned platforms? Researchers have identified several factors: ease of access through targeted advertising, the perception of greater freedom to gamble, and sometimes a lack of awareness of the risks involved. The question remains: why do some consumers, despite being aware that it is illegal, continue to take this risk?
The published study is only the first piece of a larger puzzle. Over the coming months, the Commission will unveil other aspects: an analysis of traffic trends, details of enforcement actions taken by the Illegal Markets Team, and an assessment of the challenges involved in estimating the actual size of this underground market in the UK.
A new tool to inform and protect
At the same time, a hub dedicated to illegal gambling has been launched online. This portal centralises research, news on law enforcement, and practical advice on identifying unauthorised sites. The aim is twofold: to inform the general public and to provide resources to industry players.
A battle that is only just beginning
The Commission insists that this is a complex area that is difficult to measure and control. However, it affirms its determination to continue its efforts, relying on cooperation with various partners.
As Andrew Rhodes points out: ‘To combat the illegal market more effectively, it is essential that we have a thorough and comprehensive understanding of how it operates. This knowledge is a crucial step towards gaining that understanding in a field that is very complex to study.’