Gambling Commission dedicates role to fighting black market

The Gambling Commission is moving to strengthen the UK’s fight against illegal gambling with the creation of a Head of Illegal Markets role.

It will focus on leading high-profile investigations and disruption activity targeting black market operators, as the licensed industry in the UK continues to battle the ever-growing presence of unlicensed operators. 

Reporting directly to the Commission’s Director of Enforcement and Intelligence John Pierce, the successful candidate will sit within the regulator’s Operations Directorate and play a central role in shaping and leading its response to illegal gambling across the UK.

According to the job description, they will coordinate resources across Enforcement and Intelligence functions while working closely with the Illegal Markets team, Sports Betting Integrity Unit, Legal, Policy, Strategy and Communications departments.

The regulator added that the role will play a “critical part” in supporting its broader strategy to combat illegal gambling and create “a safer and more transparent gambling environment across Great Britain”.

Applicants with significant leadership and criminal investigation experience as desired, including those with expertise in investigative methodologies, enforcement strategy and legal collaboration on complex investigations.

Is the Gambling Commission answering industry calls?

It comes amid a troubling time for the licensed industry, which has continually warned about the heavily-increased player activity on unlicensed operators’ platforms. 

This week, Entain Chief Executive Officer, Stella David, penned an appeal to the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), calling for sponsorships from unlicensed operators to be banned in the Premier League. 

Another organisation which has been particularly vocal about clamping down on the black market is the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). 

In an update today, the BGC cited research from H2 Gambling Capital estimating the size of the offshore betting market at £16.6bn in 2025, up from ‘around £5bn’ in 2019.

Yet many within the UK gambling sector feel as though action around black market operators has been limited, with the government focusing on regulating licensed operators. 

One of the most controversial government actions was the increase in Remote Gaming Duty tax to 40%. The industry is also facing calls for changes to retail betting regulations, such as a reversal for the Aim to Permit rule, as well as seemingly never ending political and public frustration around marketing – particularly in sports. 

However, a job role solely dedicated to the fight against illegal gambling in the UK may prove as welcome news for those who have long warned against the actions of these businesses. 

It follows the creation of the DCMS illegal gambling task force, headed up by Labour peer Baroness Twycross, in late January. Similarly, this move served to give the regulated industry some reassurance that the government has plans to combat its unregulated counterpart.

While the Commission role is still vacant, having only just been advertised this week, whoever fills it will be of great interest to those in the industry.