UK Illegal Gambling Taskforce Targets Black Market Payments and Advertising

The U.K. government has set up a dedicated Illegal Gambling Taskforce to combat the unlicensed market, with a particular focus on disrupting payments to and from illegal operators and removing their advertising from online platforms.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published the responsibilities of this new body on May 13. The new task force will bring together gambling operators, technology platforms, payment providers, regulators, government departments, and trade bodies to develop practical solutions to the problem.

The launch follows the U.K.’s Remote Gaming Duty rising to 40% in April 2026. Critics have warned that the change could push more players toward unlicensed sites.

A Shift Toward Infrastructure Enforcement

The most striking part of the plan is its focus on the financial infrastructure that keeps illegal gambling operational. One of the task force’s three core objectives is “preventing or reducing payments from and to illegal gambling operators.”

This goes beyond traditional enforcement efforts focused on individual operators. Instead, lawmakers appear to be targeting the infrastructure that allows illegal gambling sites to function and reach consumers.

According to a May 2026 H2 Gambling Capital study, annual stakes with unlicensed operators reached £16.6 billion in 2025. The figure was more than triple that of 2019. Meanwhile, a Yield Sec analysis cited by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling estimated illegal operators control roughly 9% of Britain’s online gambling market.

The second priority is tackling the online advertising of illegal gambling. The third is improving cross-agency collaboration and enforcement for both land-based and remote illegal gambling.

The task force will create a separate subgroup to work on each of the three issues. Each will regularly report its progress and recommendations to the main task force.

A Deliberately Discreet Membership

The Minister of Museums, Heritage, and Gambling will chair the task force, with the DCMS Director of Sport and Gambling serving as co-chair. Its membership comprises a mix of experts and industry participants from the gambling industry, technology platforms, payment providers, the U.K. Gambling Commission (UKGC), and other regulators, government departments, and trade bodies.

The government has notably decided not to publish the names of specific individuals and organizations taking part. Members will also hold meetings under the Chatham House rule, so participants can report what’s said in the room without attributing it to a named participant.

While the unpublished membership list and confidential setup are likely to attract some scrutiny, the government appears to believe participants will speak more openly under confidentiality protections.

Payment firms, platforms, and licensed operators might be more willing to discuss commercial sensitivities, vulnerabilities, and the methods used by illegal operators if they’re not doing so on the record. Critics may question how a body impacting policy on a multibillion-pound issue can operate without public visibility of who is at the table.

The emphasis on cooperation with technology platforms follows earlier public criticism from UKGC Executive Director Tim Miller. Miller has accused social media companies of undermining black-market enforcement efforts by allowing illegal gambling advertising to persist.

The terms of reference published on May 13 also draw a firm line on the task force’s authority. It won’t have any role in directing or intervening in the UKGC’s operational matters. That effectively means the task force will identify solutions and develop recommendations, rather than overriding the regulator’s decisions.

Non-Legislative Solutions

A revealing detail is that members must “support and deliver non-legislative solutions regarding advertising and payment services on behalf of their own organizations and through facilitating action from industry.” They must also attend meetings and join subgroups.

The emphasis on non-legislative solutions suggests the government wants to see results without waiting for new legislation. Lawmakers appear to want payment providers and online platforms to take voluntary action. That includes changing how they screen transactions or how they detect ads.

This approach depends heavily on the goodwill and capability of the firms involved. It will be tested by whether the subgroups can convert discussions into concrete commitments.

Members are expected to contribute proactively, jointly agree on the objectives and roles of the subgroups, and develop recommendations for delivering the task force’s aims.

Subgroups can bring in people outside the core task force, and the government may invite other stakeholders to participate in specific agenda items. This allows for some flexibility to bring in expertise where members identify particular problems.

A Time-Limited Body

The task force will only run for 12 months. After its conclusion, the government will review its remit and membership and renew them only if necessary. The main task force will meet twice a year. The subgroups will decide their own meeting frequency, although the guidance recommends at least quarterly meetings.

The terms of reference leave room to change course. The task force and government officials will agree on any changes. That reflects the reality that tactics used by illegal operators can change quickly, and a rigid mandate could become outdated within months.

The launch of the task force reflects a growing official concern that the online black market is undercutting the licensed gambling sector in the U.K.

The illegal sector operates beyond the reach of consumer protections, age checks, and responsible gambling measures. Illegal operators also don’t pay U.K. taxes, contribute to funding safe gambling measures, or offer recourse when fraud occurs.

The publication of the task force’s terms of reference marks the formal start, and the industry will closely watch whether the subgroups can translate discussion into practical industry action over the next 12 months.