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Brazil's efforts to regulate online betting have significantly reshaped the country's gambling sector, but a substantial portion of betting activity continues to take place outside the licensed market. New research indicates that illegal platforms accounted for between 38% and 44% of online betting activity during the first half of 2026, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing Brazilian authorities. The latest estimate represents an improvement compared with the previo

An Australian man has been charged following a major investigation into an alleged illegal tobacco and vaping operation that authorities believe generated and handled almost $9 million in illicit proceeds. The case emerged from a four-month investigation in Australia's Northern Territory that initially focused on suspected money laundering before investigators uncovered an alleged commercial operation involving the sale and distribution of illicit tobacco products and vaping

The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) is reinforcing its efforts to combat illegal gambling by expanding cooperation with international regulators and establishing a dedicated Intelligence and Enforcement Division to strengthen oversight beyond the regulated market. In a statement released on July 20, the regulator outlined a series of initiatives designed to improve the detection of unlawful gambling activities, enhance cross-border regulatory collaboration,

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has unveiled a new strategy aimed at combating the growth of illegal gambling in the United Kingdom, arguing that a coordinated response from government authorities, regulators, technology platforms and financial institutions is necessary to protect consumers and the licensed market. Representing what it says is around 90 per cent of Britain's regulated betting and gaming industry, the trade body believes that unlicensed operators are expa

Germany's regulated sports betting sector is preparing for a major surge in activity during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with industry representatives predicting that the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico will become the year's most significant commercial event for the market. According to projections from the German Sports Betting Association (DSWV), the total volume of wagers placed in Germany during the competition could approach the €1 billion threshold. The

South Korea’s Supreme Court has established that operators of unlawful online gambling platforms can be held criminally responsible for violations of data protection laws when they acquire and use personal information obtained through illegal means. The ruling clarifies that individuals involved in illicit gambling operations are not exempt from liability under privacy legislation simply because the information was used within the context of an illegal enterprise. The decisio

A vast parallel gambling economy is continuing to flourish within the digital shadows of Italy, generating an estimated €20 billion while attracting millions of active users despite mounting enforcement actions, domain shutdowns, and regulatory intervention by state authorities. The illegal online gambling sector has evolved into a highly adaptive digital ecosystem powered by smartphones, social media platforms, disposable domains, and rapidly replicating websites engineered

The illegal gambling market in the United Kingdom has expanded sharply, reaching an estimated £16.6bn (US$22.5bn), according to figures from H2 Gambling Capital that were shared by the Betting and Gaming Council. The latest estimate reflects a dramatic rise compared with £5bn ($6.79 billion) in 2019, signalling what analysts describe as a rapidly accelerating black market in the country. Over this period, illegal gambling activity has more than tripled, with growth doubling s

Ukrainian authorities have uncovered and dismantled a large-scale illegal iGaming network with a reported turnover exceeding UAH5bn (€97m), highlighting the continued difficulties the country faces in combating unlicensed online gambling operations during wartime. According to the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine (ESBU), the illegal operation was allegedly managed by a group of 10 individuals, including two Russian nationals and eight Ukrainian citizens. Investigators be

A Japanese government panel has moved closer to supporting the use of website blocking as part of the country’s strategy to combat illegal online casinos, even as it acknowledges potential conflicts with constitutional protections. The discussion emerges at a time when enforcement actions tied to unlawful online gambling have reached their highest level in years. The panel, convened under Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, stated in a draft report th

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has cautioned that the increasing use of virtual private networks (VPNs) is making it significantly more difficult to track illegal online gambling activity, even as regulators expand their analytical efforts. According to a new analysis released on Tuesday, tools designed to enhance consumer privacy are simultaneously complicating enforcement and reducing the accuracy of available market data. The Commission’s latest update examines cons

The UK government’s move to raise gambling taxes is expected to significantly alter the competitive landscape of the betting industry, with licensed operators cautioning that the policy could accelerate the expansion of illegal betting markets in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. Writing in The Telegraph, Stella David warned that increasing the remote gaming duty to 40 percent could push regulated operators to the fringes of the market at a critical moment, as unlicensed

A group of six individuals identified as the masterminds behind a Russian illegal gambling operation will not serve prison time after a court opted to impose suspended sentences instead of incarceration. The ruling was issued by the Central District Court of Prokopyevsk, located in the Kuznetsk Basin region of southwestern Siberia, where judges reviewed the case involving the operation of two unauthorized land-based casinos. The court found all six men guilty of “organizing i

Illegal online gambling is now siphoning more than R50 billion annually from South Africa’s economy, with unlicensed offshore operators responsible for nearly two-thirds of all online gambling activity in the country, according to the South African Bookmakers’ Association. The association on Tuesday sounded the alarm, warning that the proliferation of illegal online gambling has reached crisis proportions, posing serious risks to consumers, legitimate operators, and the broad

A Russian court has chosen not to impose prison sentences on the three individuals behind a high-profile illegal poker club operating in the western city of Smolensk. Instead, the district court issued suspended jail terms ranging from 20 to 22 months, according to a report by Russian media outlet Rabochy Put. The three organizers, whose identities have not been disclosed due to legal restrictions, were also ordered to serve two years of probation. In addition, each of th

The Philippine government is considering a possible ban on Telegram as authorities intensify efforts to combat illegal online activities, including unauthorized gambling operations and sexual exploitation, that have allegedly proliferated on the messaging platform. According to a report by Manila Bulletin, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) confirmed that it is evaluating the option of blocking access to Telegram following reports that illicit

The Malaysian government is preparing new legislation aimed at curbing illegal gambling, with plans to grant expanded enforcement powers to police in response to growing concerns over both online and land-based betting activities. Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof confirmed that authorities are currently drafting the proposed law and intend to present it during the upcoming parliamentary session. “At the federal level, the government is drafting a law to address illega

Athens has announced that all options are being considered in the fight against black market gambling, including prison sentences and consumer fines for repeated participation on illegal websites. Greece is moving forward with plans to become the first EU country to introduce a “comprehensive framework” specifically targeting illegal gambling activities and associated crimes. The initiative comes from Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Minister of National Economy and Finance, who is adva

South Africans who access unlicensed offshore gambling websites face serious legal and financial consequences, including the possible loss of both their deposits and any winnings. Financial institutions are obligated under the law to seize funds connected to illegal betting activities, meaning users may never recover money earned through these platforms. According to the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA), national legislation forbids residents from participat

Authorities in Egypt are moving forward with plans to implement a nationwide shutdown targeting online betting applications, as part of new legislation expected to permanently disable illegal gambling services while introducing stricter sanctions for companies that advertise or promote betting activities within the country. The proposed regulatory changes represent a major expansion of enforcement efforts aimed at curbing unauthorized digital gambling operations. Reports indi