UKGC Chief Andrew Rhodes Discusses Evolving Regulatory Challenges

During his guest appearance at ICE 2025 Barcelona, the exhibition bringing together stakeholders from across the worldwide gambling sector, UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) chief executive Andrew Rhodes delivered a comprehensive update on the current progress of gambling regulation in Great Britain and shared his views on the emerging challenges facing international regulators.

The UK Market Remains Resilient

Rhodes underlined the most recent developments in the British gambling market, noting that the Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) in Great Britain reached a record amount in 2024, at £15.6 billion ($19.23 billion). Though the rate of gambling participation remained flat, with 48% of adults saying they gamble monthly, consumer preferences are shifting. Online casino games like slots command an increasing market share, while horseracing enjoyed record GGY.

Large society lotteries also recorded rapid growth, surpassing £1 billion ($1.23 billion) in annual sales for the first time. Moreover, prize draw betting participation, though not regulated as gambling, experienced an unprecedented surge and now rivals traditional betting activities. Rhodes remarked that these numbers represented a healthy industry but underlined the UKGC’s integral role in maintaining fairness and equitability.

The vast majority of this industry wants to do the right thing and wants the clarity the implementation of the 2023 White Paper would bring.

Andrew Rhodes, UKGC CEO

Rhodes emphasized that the UKGC remained committed to delivering on the 2023 Gambling Act Review White Paper recommendations. Despite last year’s general election and subsequent change in government, Rhodes reported continued political support for reforms. He noted that the regulator would soon launch a consultation on Games Machine Technical Standards, marking another significant regulatory milestone.

Illegal Gambling Remains a Pressing Concern

Combating illegal gambling operators was a central theme of Rhodes’s speech. He underlined the UKGC’s efforts to disrupt unlicensed activities as the authority issued over 770 cease-and-desist notices to operators and advertisers, with 64,000 URLs removed by search engines and 264 illegal websites dismantled. Rhodes stressed that licensed operators must demonstrate due diligence or face strict punishments and even license revocations.

According to Rhodes, cross-border cooperation remains invaluable in combating illegal gambling. The UKGC was instrumental in establishing the Illegal Gambling Working Group within the International Association of Gaming Regulators, fostering collaboration across continents. He noted that all gambling regulators worldwide shared common principles, which should form the basis for a more effective crackdown on black market entities.

Respectable regulators around the world all want the same thing – illegal gambling to stop, which is why we are sharing information to help them as well as us.

Andrew Rhodes, UKGC CEO

As 2025 unfolds, Rhodes highlighted several priorities for the UKGC, centering around enhanced consumer protections, fairness, and transparency. He stressed the need for constant dialogue and cooperation among regulators, operators, and stakeholders to carefully navigate the evolving global gambling landscape, underpinned by evidence-based regulation via timely and actionable insights.