UKGC in discussions with meta over illegal gambling ads

Summary

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is pressing the regulated sector to act against the gambling black market by making it commercially unattractive for suppliers to work with unlicenced operators. At ICE, UKGC Executive Director Tim Miller outlined enforcement activity from April–December last year, including hundreds of cease-and-desist notices and hundreds of thousands of URLs reported to search engines. He warned that suppliers, affiliates and tech firms that serve both licenced and illegal operators are muddying the line between the two and must be forced to choose.

The UKGC has engaged with Meta after spotting adverts on its platforms promoting illegal casinos with “not on GamStop” messaging aimed at self-excluded customers. Miller said discussions with Meta have made only “very limited progress” and criticised the company for not proactively blocking such ads. The piece also notes extra government funding for the UKGC and forthcoming powers in the Crime and Policing Bill to suspend IP addresses and domain names linked to illegal gambling.

Key Points

UKGC calls on operators and suppliers to make the black market “commercially toxic” by refusing to work with unlicenced operators.
Between April and December 2025 the UKGC issued 592 cease-and-desists and reported 327,964 URLs to search engines, with 203,571 removed so far.
The commission referred 839 websites for delisting and disrupted 627 sites (taken down or geo-blocked).
Tim Miller warned suppliers, affiliates and tech firms that serve both licensed and illegal operators are undermining channelisation and player protection.
The UKGC has raised concerns with Meta about adverts using “not on GamStop” messaging targeting self-excluded customers; progress has been limited.
Government added £26m in funding to the UKGC; the Crime and Policing Bill would let the commission suspend IP addresses and domain names linked to illegal gambling.
Miller urged a collective approach: regulation, technology, commercial pressure and law enforcement working together to tackle illegal operators and those who support them.

Why should I read this?

Quick and blunt: if you work in compliance, ops, affiliate management or supply tech to the UK market, this article spells out exactly what the UKGC expects you to stop doing — and why Meta has been singled out. It’s a handy heads-up on enforcement numbers, potential new powers and the commercial pressure coming your way. Skip it only if you don’t want to be surprised when regulators start asking awkward questions.