During the WLS 2024, the parallel session on the Fight against illegal gaming, focused on the different ways lotteries and other partners address this transnational and growing issue, with examples from Asia, Europe and North America. The panel agreed on the importance of stakeholder engagement, regulatory cooperation, and education in tackling this evolving threat.
The session was moderated by Stein Langberget, Executive Special Advisor to the CEO at Norsk Tipping AS, Norway, with panellists Pat Davis, CEO of the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), and Martin Purbrick, Chairman of the Council on Anti Illegal Betting & Related Crime at the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
Below are some highlights from the panellists.
Norway
Langberget explained some of Norway's successful strategies, including public law enforcement measures, such as bans on advertisements, payment blocking, and fines.
He noted that a better understanding and cooperation between operators and business to business suppliers can have a huge impact on combatting the illegal market. In particular, he encouraged regulated operators to ensure that their suppliers do not work with any illegal operators.
Technology advancements, such as cryptocurrencies and other online ways to play, must be continually monitored, in order to develop strategies to address new issues.
Hong Kong
Martin Purbrick emphasized the global nature of illegal betting, and the importance of stakeholder engagement with regulators, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
He explained that research and reports show that tax increases can have a negative impact on regulated operators, and push consumers to illegal betting markets, adding that it is important to convince government policy makers of the need for appropriate tax levels.
He stressed that as part of addressing this global issue, it is paramount to clearly define what illegal betting is, as per the Council of Europe Macolin Convention, given that illegal betting is a key driver for corruption in sport.
Canada
Davis discussed the impact of Ontario's regulatory shift in 2021 with the legalization of single event sports betting in Canada, and its subsequent move to a different regulatory regime for digital online offerings, of a license and tax model similar to that in the UK and other global jurisdictions. The latter has led to an influx of new operators and challenges of national advertising by these operators, which may not always be legal.
In response to this, the Canadian Lottery Coalition was created to educate the public and lobby on behalf of regulated operators. There is the need for global industry alignment on this, and the public backlash against gambling advertisements could lead to the establishment of a national gambling advertising framework.
