Government launches new taskforce to tackle illegal gambling market

The UK Government has formally launched a new Illegal Gambling Taskforce aimed at disrupting black market gambling activity, with a particular focus on payments, advertising and enforcement coordination across the sector. 

The initiative, led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), will bring together representatives from the gambling industry, payment providers, technology platforms, regulators and law enforcement agencies as part of a 12-month programme designed to combat illegal gambling operations. 

According to the published terms of reference, the taskforce will focus on three core objectives: reducing payments to and from illegal operators, tackling online advertising of unlicensed gambling and improving cross-agency collaboration around both remote and land-based illegal gambling enforcement. Dedicated sub-groups will be established to oversee each area of work. 

The taskforce will be chaired by the Minister for Gambling and co-chaired by DCMS’s Director of Sport and Gambling. While the government confirmed that members will include experts and industry stakeholders, the names of participating organisations and individuals will not be published, with meetings taking place under Chatham House rules. 

The move comes amid increasing concern about the growth of illegal gambling activity and fears that tightening regulation and higher taxation could drive more consumers towards unlicensed operators. Industry estimates referenced in recent reports suggest the illegal market has grown significantly in recent years, particularly online. 

Importantly, the taskforce will not replace or direct the work of the Gambling Commission, but instead aims to develop practical and non-legislative solutions that can be implemented collaboratively across the industry. 

The initiative has generally been welcomed as a positive step, particularly in recognising that tackling illegal gambling requires cooperation between operators, regulators, payment firms, advertisers and digital platforms.

However, questions remain around how effective the measures can ultimately be without addressing some of the wider commercial pressures facing the regulated market. Critics within the industry continue to warn that excessive taxation, affordability checks and increased friction for licensed operators risk unintentionally pushing customers towards illegal alternatives that operate outside UK consumer protection frameworks. 

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21 May 2026

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