A major international gambling fair took place in London in early July: iGB Live. More than 15,000 people from the gambling world gathered there.
But what happened there caused a stir. Companies that were recently heavily fined and even lost their licences were simply standing on the show floor.
They were advertising, talking to visitors and doing business as if nothing was wrong. Even the UK regulator, which previously punished these companies, was walking around there.
The punished companies clearly did not care. They continue to look for new customers and markets, despite all the bans.
TGP Europe is the epitome of a penalised company that just keeps going
One of the most notable attendees at the fair was TGP Europe. This company lost its licence in Britain earlier this year.
TGP Europe has for years been linked to illegal gambling sites targeting Asian markets. They are also said to have links with Premier League clubs.
Yet they were at the fair in London, unashamedly. They were showcasing their products and seeking new collaborations.
And it is not just limited to the UK. Many of these companies also try to lure Belgian players through illegal means.
They use foreign websites without a Belgian licence, offer attractive bonuses and promise winnings without limits.
For Belgian players, these illegal sites are dangerous as there is no protection or control.
The Belgian gambling market remains a target for wrong companies that ignore rules
Increasingly, these penalised companies are targeting Belgium. They mainly target players frustrated by the strict Belgian rules.
Because legal Belgian sites have many restrictions, some players opt for illegal alternatives.
These flawed companies take advantage of this and advertise aggressively via social media, foreign websites and even influencers.
Experts have been warning about these practices for some time. They call it a growing problem that the Gaming Commission can hardly stop.
The UK regulator has not yet responded to the conspicuous presence of these companies on the exchange. In Belgium, too, there has been little action against them so far.