Gambling Commission reports rise in local inspections and intensifies crackdown on illegal gambling

The Gambling Commission has revealed a significant increase in gambling premises inspections by local authorities, while highlighting a series of enforcement operations targeting illegal gambling activity across England and Wales in its latest Licensing Authority Bulletin.

More than 93 per cent of licensing authorities have submitted their annual returns, with the Commission reporting a rise of 666 inspections during the year, representing a 29 per cent increase in local gambling inspections. The regulator thanked local authorities for their engagement and warned that those yet to submit returns should expect follow-up action.

Illegal gambling enforcement has been a major focus in recent months, with joint operations involving the Gambling Commission, local authorities and police forces leading to raids on premises in Manchester, Doncaster, Birmingham, Bristol and Sheffield. Investigations have involved allegations including unlawful gambling machine provision, illegal casino operations, money laundering and immigration offences.

The Commission has urged licensing authorities to report suspected illegal gambling activity through its intelligence reporting channels, pointing to a number of recent enforcement actions, including operations in Sheffield, Doncaster and Bristol.

The bulletin also highlights the publication of new Local Authority Small Area Estimates of Gambling, developed by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Addictions and the University of Glasgow. The data provides modelled estimates of gambling participation and gambling-related harms for every lower-tier local authority in England.

The research uses small area estimation techniques to combine data from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain with local demographic information, including age profiles, deprivation levels and urban-rural classifications. For the first time, the estimates also seek to quantify harms experienced as a result of another person’s gambling.

The Commission said the data is intended to support local planning, prevention and treatment initiatives rather than enable direct comparisons between areas. It added that the approach could potentially be expanded to Scotland and Wales following the publication of additional survey data later this year.

Meanwhile, the regulator reported strong engagement with its gambling regulation webinar programme for licensing officers and police. Sessions covering gaming machines, lotteries, betting and poker each attracted around 500 attendees over the past year.

The bulletin also drew attention to recent regulatory action against operator Holland Park Leisure Limited. The company, which operates three adult gaming centres in Leicester, agreed to pay a £150,000 penalty after failing to comply with self-exclusion requirements designed to protect individuals experiencing gambling harm. In addition to the financial sanction, the business will undergo an independent audit of its policies, procedures, staff training and customer protection controls.

John Pierce, the Commission’s Director of Enforcement and Intelligence, said self-exclusion measures are “fundamental licence conditions” and warned that operators failing to meet their obligations should expect regulatory action.

The Commission also highlighted new research examining demographic differences in gambling-related adverse consequences. Analysis of Gambling Survey for Great Britain data found that higher rates of adverse outcomes among men, younger adults, people from ethnic minority backgrounds and lower-income households were partly linked to participation in higher-risk gambling activities, including casino games, slots and online instant-win products.

While differences in gambling activity fully explained the elevated risk among men, the report found that increased vulnerability among younger adults, ethnic minority groups and people in lower-income households was only partly explained by gambling participation patterns, indicating the possible influence of wider social and economic factors.

Separately, the regulator is seeking industry proposals on reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens while maintaining consumer protections and meeting the licensing objectives of the Gambling Act 2005. The initiative forms part of the Commission’s 2026/27 Business Plan and invites feedback on licence conditions, technical standards, reporting processes and regulatory interactions.

Headline: Gambling Commission reports 29% rise in local gambling inspections and steps up illegal gambling enforcement

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