The UK government has initiated a confidential task force aimed at tackling the illegal gambling market, focusing on disrupting the payment and advertising networks that support unlicensed operators.
Announced on May 13 by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), this Illegal Gambling Taskforce will unite various stakeholders, including gambling operators, technology companies, payment service providers, regulators, and trade organizations, to devise effective strategies against the illicit market.
This move comes in light of the Remote Gaming Duty in the UK increasing to 40% by April 2026, with critics warning that this could drive more players toward unregulated sites.
One of the task force's primary goals is to target the financial systems that enable illegal gambling. This approach marks a departure from traditional enforcement methods that focus solely on individual operators. Instead, lawmakers are aiming to disrupt the infrastructure that allows these illegal sites to thrive.
A study by H2 Gambling Capital in May 2026 revealed that stakes with unlicensed operators soared to £16.6 billion in 2025, more than three times the amount seen in 2019. Additionally, a Yield Sec analysis indicated that illegal operators control about 9% of the online gambling market in Britain.
The task force's second priority involves addressing the online promotion of illegal gambling, while the third focuses on enhancing collaboration across agencies to combat both land-based and online illegal gambling.
To tackle these issues, the task force will establish subgroups that will report their findings and recommendations back to the main group regularly.
The task force will be chaired by the Minister of Museums, Heritage, and Gambling, with the DCMS Director of Sport and Gambling as co-chair. Its membership will consist of various experts and industry representatives from the gambling sector, technology platforms, payment providers, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), and other regulatory bodies.
Interestingly, the government has opted not to disclose the names of the individuals or organizations involved, with meetings being conducted under the Chatham House rule to encourage open dialogue without attribution.
This confidential approach may allow payment firms and licensed operators to discuss sensitive commercial issues and vulnerabilities more freely, although some critics might question the transparency of a body influencing policy on such a significant scale without public visibility.
The task force's focus on collaboration with technology platforms comes after UKGC Executive Director Tim Miller publicly criticized social media companies for enabling illegal gambling advertisements, undermining enforcement efforts.
Furthermore, the terms of reference established on May 13 clarify that the task force will not interfere with the operational decisions of the UKGC, meaning its role will be to identify solutions and provide recommendations rather than to override regulatory decisions.
Members of the task force are also required to support and implement non-legislative solutions to address the challenges posed by illegal gambling.