ARF: “61% of betting websites examined are effectively illegal in most countries”

The Asian Racing Federation (ARF) has found 61% of betting websites are “either under-regulated or unlicensed” in a new report entitled The State of Illegal Betting.

asian racing federation gi web image
Listen To Article

The regional federation comprises 27 national racing authorities and racing-related organisations from Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Middle East.

Its latest publication examines online betting across its multinational jurisdiction, analysing 500 websites with regard to their licensing status, products offered, website traffic, server locations and other pertinent data points.

Notable findings include a regulatory deficit, with nearly two thirds of websites either unlicensed or under-regulated, meaning illegal in most countries.

Of these latter websites, three jurisdictions were responsible for 62% of betting licences that are under-regulated: Curacao, Malta and the Philippines.

Overall traffic, meanwhile, increased by 37% between 2019 and 2021, though growth in under-regulated and unlicensed markets outpaced their legal counterparts by a considerable margin: 64% versus 36%.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chairman of the ARF, commented: “The report points out that the globalised growth of illegal betting results in major threats to the integrity of racing and other sports, the growth of transnational organised crime and gambling harm to customers.

“It is clearer than ever that illegal betting is a major current global social problem that requires continued attention.”

In regard to horseracing, the activity remained a “significant betting product,” available on approximately 36% of all websites, while racing from ARF member jurisdictions featured on 82%.            

Most betting sites also accepted wagers on more activities than just traditional sports. For example, 63% offered esports betting, which the ARF said was “significant, given this product’s particular appeal to younger demographics.”


Asia News Sponsor
Premium+ Connections
Premium

RISK

 
Premium

PIN-UP Partners

 
Premium

GammaStack

 
Premium

Digitain

 
Premium

Sport Generate

 
Premium

Imagine Live

 
Premium

Lynon

 
Premium

1xBet Partners

 
Premium

Revsharks

 
 
Premium

Galaxsys

 
Premium Connections
Consultancy

SCCG Management

Executive Profiles
Zeal Network SE

Stefan Tweraser

VIP Play

Les Ottolenghi

Scientific Games

Keshav Pitani

Social & App

Spribe CEO exclusive: Simplicity is the foundation

Spribe CEO David Natroshvili speaks to Gambling Insider abou...

Redefining iGaming: A history of crash games

Crash games is a growing vertical that has taken gambling by...

A certain something: What makes crash games special?

Crash games. They’re simple, they’re easy to learn and,...

Smarter innovation to shape the future

Spribe CCO Giorgi Tsutskiridze discusses the past, present a...

Facing Facts: The corner of quarterly contemplation

With Q1 reports out across the industry, Gambling Insider co...

Taking Stock: A guide to key stock prices across the industry

Gambling Insider tracks prices from some of the industry’s...

15 years of Gambling Insider: From the Founders

Over the last 15 years, Gambling Insider magazine has interv...

15 years of Gambling Insider: The Awards over time

Global Gaming Awards Event Manager Mariya Savova gives us he...