UKGC turns to data analytics to steer enforcement and consumer protection strategy

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is turning to data analytics and real-time monitoring to guide enforcement and consumer protection, with CEO Andrew Rhodes saying the regulator’s investments in technology have led to a 300% rise in criminal cases over two years.

Rhodes, speaking at the CEO Briefing on November 6, said the UKGC’s data capabilities now allow it to identify risk patterns, track operator compliance, and detect illegal activity faster. The Commission’s recent data initiatives, funded from reserves built during the pandemic, were designed to improve what Rhodes described as a “smarter form of regulation” that uses real-time information to support enforcement and fairness among licensed operators.

Technology and enforcement

According to Rhodes, the Commission’s data systems are generating insights into betting behavior and consumer risk, particularly among younger demographics. Early results from the Regular Feed of Operator Core Data (ROCD) show that staking patterns change during major events and that those under 25 are the least likely to set deposit limits but most likely to reach financial risk levels.

“What this insight is starting to show us is if we can expand on this sort of insight, we can start to get to a position where there is a truly risk-based regime which looks at cohort level instead of only what happens when you have spent X, or done Y,” Rhodes said.

He added that the data program has also informed how the UKGC targets enforcement actions. Over the past two years, the regulator has recorded a 300% increase in criminal cases involving betting integrity, cheating, and illegal gambling.

Crackdown on illegal operators

A dedicated team formed three years ago continues to address unlicensed gambling. In the current financial year, the UKGC issued 480 cease-and-desist orders to advertisers and operators, reported 188,297 URLs to search engines—with 104,192 removed—referred 659 websites for delisting, and disrupted 504 websites through takedowns or geoblocking.

“There is nothing more exploitative than the illegal market… We are here for all consumers,” Rhodes said, reaffirming that protecting children and vulnerable people remains one of the Commission’s main responsibilities under the Gambling Act.

He warned that software partners and B2B suppliers supporting unlicensed operations will face immediate sanctions. “There will be no more warnings for those actors,” he said. “We have undertaken nine suspensions in the last few weeks, and these are all on issues that we have repeatedly warned about.”

Compliance and sector data

Rhodes reported that 73% of operator compliance assessments between March 2024 and March 2025 were rated Good or Satisfactory, compared to nearly 66% in the first two quarters of 2025–26. While acknowledging continued challenges, he said the overall trajectory was moving in a positive direction based on longitudinal data.

Consumer data published by the Commission showed 44.2 million withdrawals between June and September 2024, with 96.3% processed automatically and only 0.1% taking up to 48 hours. Rhodes said this data helps address misconceptions about delays and reinforces evidence-based discussions.

Changing consumer expectations and cryptocurrency

Rhodes also discussed the impact of evolving consumer habits and the emergence of cryptocurrency in gambling-related payments. He said that the increasing use of digital currencies among younger consumers poses a regulatory issue that requires government-level decision-making.

“The growth in cryptocurrencies amongst younger demographics means that there is a pressure building within the system,” Rhodes said. “This is going to have to be government-level discussion, and it is a government-level decision because once you open that door, you cannot close it.”

Rhodes noted that the UKGC’s ongoing data and enforcement initiatives have been funded through reserves accumulated in 2021–22, which will be exhausted by mid-2026. A government fees review later this year will determine how such programs continue.

He said the Commission will maintain its mandate to license and regulate gambling within the framework defined by Parliament and policy set by the government.

“Our obligation is to aim to permit gambling, providing it's in line with the licensing objectives, and that’s what we will continue to do,” Rhodes said.