BGC Issues Open Letter Pressing Technology Platforms on Illegal Gambling Operations

The Betting and Gaming Council released an open letter dated 17 June 2026 that carries the signature of chief executive Grainne Hurst and addresses major technology companies directly. The document calls for coordinated steps by social media networks, search engines, messaging applications, and advertising platforms to limit the reach of illegal gambling operators who target users based in the United Kingdom. Hurst outlines several practical measures in the letter, including improved detection systems that rely on artificial intelligence and data analytics, prompt removal of advertisements that promote unlicensed sites, and routine sharing of information across different platforms to identify repeat offenders. The council positions these actions as necessary responses to operators who operate outside established regulatory frameworks.

Details of the Requested Measures

The letter specifies that platforms should adopt proactive monitoring rather than waiting for complaints or regulatory notices. It notes that illegal sites often appear in search results or within social feeds, and it argues that current detection rates allow these operators to maintain visibility despite existing policies. Cross-platform data exchange receives particular attention because the same operators frequently shift between services when one account faces restrictions.

Observers note that the recommendations align with techniques already used for other categories of harmful content, yet the council states that visible progress on gambling-related material has remained limited. The letter references the newly formed DCMS Illegal Gambling Taskforce as an official body that could benefit from stronger platform participation in enforcement efforts.

Growth Estimates and Market Context

Estimates cited in the letter indicate that stakes placed with illegal operators could reach £33 billion within five years if current trends continue, representing a potential doubling of recent figures. The council connects this projection to broader data on the UK offshore gambling market, which reached stakes of £16.6bn in 2025 according to available research. These numbers illustrate how unlicensed operators have expanded their presence while avoiding the tax obligations and consumer protections required of licensed entities.

Illegal operators evade rules on age verification, responsible gambling tools, and dispute resolution procedures that licensed companies must follow. The letter emphasises that users who engage with these sites lose access to the safeguards built into the regulated UK market, and it presents this gap as a growing concern for both industry participants and public authorities.

Position on Collective Platform Action

The document criticises the absence of consistent, visible collaboration among technology companies when addressing illegal gambling content. It contrasts this situation with other areas where platforms have developed shared protocols and rapid-response mechanisms. Hurst’s letter stops short of naming individual companies yet directs its appeal at the sector as a whole, suggesting that isolated efforts have proved insufficient against operators who migrate across services.

The timing of the letter coincides with ongoing work by the DCMS Illegal Gambling Taskforce, which brings together government departments and industry representatives to develop coordinated responses. The council presents its recommendations as complementary to that taskforce’s objectives rather than as a replacement for regulatory action.

Conclusion

The open letter issued on 17 June 2026 sets out a clear set of expectations for technology platforms while providing context on the scale of illegal gambling activity and the protections that remain unavailable to users who engage with unlicensed operators. The Betting and Gaming Council frames its requests around detection improvements, advertising controls, and information sharing, all positioned as steps that could support the work of the DCMS Illegal Gambling Taskforce. The document leaves further implementation decisions with the addressed companies and teh regulatory bodies that oversee them.