The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) is creating a new position within its agency to help tackle the creeping issue of illegal gambling in the country.
The role, called Head of Illegal Markets, will offer the successful candidate £65,000 per annum and be available on a part-time or full-time basis. According to the UKGC, the position will provide “frequent exposure to external stakeholders, as well as the Executive Team and Board.”
Illegal gambling market a problem UKGC struggling to solve
This move comes months after Executive Director of the UKGC, Tim Miller, remarked that the agency would need additional help in dealing with the growing problem of illegal gambling. He also vented frustrations at social media behemoths for not
However, the commission has taken action. The regulator issued 592 cease-and-desist notices, reported nearly 328,000 URLs to search engines, secured the removal of more than 203,000 links, referred 839 websites for delisting and disrupted 627 websites through takedowns or geo-blocking throughout the last year.
Miller has previously said operators and suppliers must help create a clearer distinction between licensed and unlicensed gambling markets, warning that some companies continue to support both sectors. He added that other regulators around the world are increasingly scrutinizing affiliates, advertisers, tech firms and suppliers that provide services to illegal operators.
Miller argued it should become “commercially toxic” for suppliers to work with unlicensed operators, even if tougher enforcement leads to reduced competition and higher costs, calling it a necessary step to curb illegal gambling growth.
New position will benefit from additional funding
There is a hope the individual in the newly created position will inform consequential policy decisions at the highest levels of the government.
Whoever gets the role will benefit from an increased spending pot. In late 2025, HM Treasury committed an additional £26 million in funding over three years to support enforcement against illegal gambling. Then-CEO Andrew Rhodes described the increase as unprecedented in his two decades in the public sector, calling it a clear sign of the government’s commitment to strengthening oversight.
Research from H2 Gambling Capital, recently highlighted by the UK Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), estimated UK black market betting volume reached £16.6 billion in 2025, roughly triple the level recorded in 2019. The figures serve to fuel concerns over the exploding level of illegal gambling activity in the country.
The surge is expected to increase pressure on regulators and the government to strengthen enforcement efforts. However, some industry experts have criticized recent measures, including higher Remote Gaming Duty rates, arguing they could unintentionally drive more consumers toward unregulated operators.
UKGC announce tougher measures against illegal gaming machines as Bingo Association reveals figures
Last week, the UKGC said it will strengthen oversight of non-compliant gaming machines and increase enforcement efforts against illegal land-based gambling operations.
Speaking at the Bingo Association’sannual general meeting on May 7, acting chief executive Sarah Gardner said the regulator aims to combine stricter compliance measures with continued collaboration with licensed operators. Recent figures from the organization show that 3.3% of adults in Great Britain played bingo in 2024, with 1.2% playing in traditional bingo clubs.
During the meeting, Gardner said cooperation with the bingo industry had already helped resolve inconsistencies in national gambling statistics and praised outgoing Bingo Association chief executive Miles Baron for his long-standing engagement with the regulator.
She added: “We know what we can achieve through our powers, but we know that we can achieve a whole lot more for our objectives by working with those in industry who are willing to work with us.”
The commission said gaming machines remained the largest revenue source for physical bingo venues, making up roughly two-thirds of non-remote bingo yield, while bingo games themselves accounted for 35%. The figures were released as the regulator continues its consultation on gaming machine rules and technical standards.
However, new rules taking effect July 29, 2026, will require land-based operators to remove gaming machines immediately if the commission determines they lack the proper technical operating licence or fail to comply with regulatory standards. The regulator said the changes are intended to speed up the removal of non-compliant machines from gambling premises.
