Global gambling associations join forces to fight illegal market at Berlin roundtable

Major gambling trade associations, regulators, and law enforcement agencies met Tuesday in Berlin to coordinate efforts against the growing threat of the gambling black market.

The enforcement roundtable, held during the IAGA Conference on 10 June, was chaired by Keith Bristow, former Director-General of the UK National Crime Agency and Chair of the Gambling Anti-Money Laundering Group (GAMLG). The session focused on sharing intelligence, enforcement strategies, and international cooperation to disrupt illegal operators.

The event was the first of its kind under a joint agreement signed in October 2024 by the American Gaming Association (AGA), the European Casino Association (ECA), and the UK's Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). The memorandum of understanding commits the three groups to fight illegal gambling and collaborate on research, enforcement, and advocacy.

BGC CEO Grainne Hurst said illegal operators pose a direct threat to consumers and the industry. “It was a privilege and honour to address this Enforcement Roundtable and hear from my fellow CEO’s who lead trade bodies in Europe and America,” she stated.

“These illegal operators do not pay tax, do not support sport, and don’t care about player protection measures,” Hurst added. “Instead, they target those vulnerable to harm, hurt the economy, and threaten regulated businesses.”

AGA President and CEO Bill Miller called illegal gambling a global danger. “Illegal gambling is a global threat that undermines consumer protections, siphons revenue from legal operators who follow the rules, and jeopardizes the integrity of our regulated markets," Miller stated.

ECA Chairman Erwin Van Lambaart warned that illegal gambling is out of control in Europe. He noted that illegal gambling now controls 70% of the market across all 27 EU member states, generating an estimated €80 billion (US$92 billion) in illicit revenue in 2024 alone. 

Lambaart warned that consumers are 92% more likely to see illegal gambling ads online than licensed ones, putting young people at particular risk due to targeted digital marketing. 

“Regulators, governments, EU institutions, and national enforcement bodies must unite with the licensed industry to combat this growing threat before more damage is done to our economies and communities,” he said.