Gambling Commission says players actively avoid licensed websites
Britain’s Gambling Commission has identified social media, online communities and searches for casinos outside the GamStop self-exclusion system as important pathways directing consumers towards unlicensed gambling websites.
The findings were published on October 20 in the third phase of the regulator’s Consumer Voice research programme, conducted with Yonder Consulting.
The study examined how consumers discover illegal gambling websites and why some choose to use them instead of licensed operators.
Researchers found that the expression “not on GamStop” is increasingly associated with websites perceived to offer faster withdrawals, fewer identity checks and alternative payment methods, like bitcoin and other cryptos, which are largely absent in the UK gambling market.
Although the phrase originally referred primarily to gambling sites operating outside Britain’s self-exclusion system, its meaning has broadened among online consumers.
The regulator also identified distinct groups of illegal gambling users, including self-excluded customers, experienced gamblers seeking fewer restrictions and people who encounter unlicensed sites unintentionally.
Research and Impact Manager Rupam Jagota said the findings demonstrated that illegal gambling participation could not be explained by a single regulatory or commercial factor.
The Commission stressed that illegal gambling remains a minority activity among British gamblers.
However, the research highlights the challenges regulators face when affiliate websites, search engines and social media platforms direct consumers towards operators that lack British gambling licences.
Further research will examine gambling expenditure and consumer vulnerability within the illegal market.
