Compliance Updates
Interpol Illegal Gambling Investigation Leads to 5100 Arrests
In a massive international operation targeting illegal football gambling and its associated criminal activity, authorities made over 5100 arrests and recovered more than USD 59 million in illicit proceeds.
The operation, code-named SOGA X and conducted between June and July 2024, was a collaborative effort involving INTERPOL and 28 countries and territories. It was designed to tackle illegal online football gambling during the UEFA 2024 European Football Championship, which was predicted to generate a surge in betting turnover, and lucrative profits for criminal organisations.
The illegal gambling market is worth a staggering USD 1.7 trillion globally, according to research by the Asian Racing Federation, and is closely tied to other criminal enterprises. Beyond shutting down tens of thousands of illegal websites, SOGA X investigations also led to the rescue of trafficked workers and the exposure of money laundering syndicates.
Hundreds of human trafficking victims rescued in the Philippines
In one significant case in the Philippines, local authorities, supported by INTERPOL, dismantled a scam centre operating alongside a licensed gambling site. The operation resulted in the rescue of more than 650 human trafficking victims, including almost 400 Filipinos and more than 250 foreign nationals from six different countries. Many of the victims had been lured to the location with false promises of employment and were kept there through threats, intimidation, and even passport confiscation. They were then forced into working for the legal gambling site, while also running illegal cyber scams, including romance scams and cryptocurrency-related fraud.
An INTERPOL Operational Support Team provided vital assistance to Filipino authorities on the ground, providing expertise in extracting and analysing forensic evidence from seized devices, tracing illicit financial flows and identifying potential victims and suspects in other jurisdiction.
The SOGA X operation also cracked down on large-scale illegal betting sites and complex financial crime schemes.
One notable example from Vietnam, where online gambling is prohibited for citizens, saw authorities dismantle a sophisticated gambling ring that was generating a staggering USD 800,000 in daily transactions.
The syndicate, powered by servers located in multiple countries, used an elaborate network of bank accounts and e-wallets to receive illegal gambling bets and distribute payouts.
In Thailand, police raided two locations hosting major illegal betting websites, arresting the ringleaders and their network for gambling and money laundering offenses and seizing assets worth over USD 9 million.
In Greece, authorities took down a major illegal betting ring that exploited fake and mule user accounts to place bets on sports events. The organised crime group, which employed Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass internet blocks in Greece, operated at least seven illegal gambling sites and had access to accounts on 60 other illegal websites.
The group managed 3000 fake and ‘mule’ user accounts on legal gambling websites in Greece, Cyprus and Spain. The accounts had been created using both stolen identity cards and forged documents and often utilised e-wallets to facilitate their illegal activities. During the investigation seized laptops were found to contain 9000 pictures of fake ID cards.
The goal of this type of scheme is to break down large sums of money into smaller, less detectable amounts. By dispersing their profits across multiple accounts, criminals aim to avoid detection by law enforcement, financial institutions and legitimate gambling sites. It’s a method also used to facilitate money laundering.
SOGA X was a coordinated effort led by INTERPOL, with crucial support from the Asia-Pacific Expert Group on Organised Crime (APEG), the INTERPOL Match Fixing Task Force (IMFTF) and operation partner UEFA. INTERPOL facilitated intelligence sharing among participating countries, providing case mentoring and training for local authorities.
Stephen Kavanagh, INTERPOL Executive Director of Police Services, said: “Organized crime networks reap huge profits from illegal gambling, which is often intertwined with corruption, human trafficking, and money laundering. The successes of Operation SOGA X would not have been achieved without global information sharing and significant efforts by law enforcement authorities on the ground.”
Illegal gambling can also be closely tied to match-fixing as criminals attempt to manipulate the outcome of sports events to guarantee profits. When illegal gambling is rampant, it becomes easier for corrupt individuals to influence games, so the SOGA X operation also aimed to intercept and interrupt any signal of manipulation. Related investigations are still ongoing.
The post Interpol Illegal Gambling Investigation Leads to 5100 Arrests appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Approval from HM Government of Gibraltar’s Gambling Division lets the supplier serve Gibraltar-licensed iGaming operators.
ThrillTech has been granted a Gambling Services (B2B) Licence by the Gambling Division of HM Government of Gibraltar, allowing the supplier to provide its opt-in jackpot and mystery reward products to regulated iGaming operators licensed in Gibraltar.
The company said the licence supports its international expansion plans and will enable it to deploy its ThrillPots
product with additional operators in the jurisdiction, which hosts a number of tier-one betting and gaming brands.
Benjamin Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Securing a B2B licence in Gibraltar is an important step for ThrillTech and a testament to our market-leading jackpots technology. Gibraltar is home to some of the industry’s most prestigious operators. This approval not only accelerates our global expansion strategy but now allows us to provide these major operators with new layers of player engagement which generate incremental revenue.”
ThrillTech said it seeks market-specific licences and certifications because its side-bet jackpots operate independently of operators’ core casino games and betting products. The company added that its jackpots are powered by a proprietary, certified RNG and do not alter core game RTP, with funding coming from opt-in player contributions.
According to ThrillTech, its regulated market licences and certifications also include the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Peru, and Brazil.
The post ThrillTech lands Gibraltar B2B supplier licence appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Betting and Gaming Council
BGC Calls on Tech Giants to Protect Consumers from Illegal Gambling Sites
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has issued an open letter to Britain’s leading technology platforms calling for urgent action to tackle the growing threat posed by illegal gambling operators online.
The letter, signed by BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst, warns that black market gambling websites are increasingly using social media platforms, search engines, messaging services and digital advertising networks to reach consumers in Britain, including people who have self-excluded from gambling and those seeking support.
The intervention follows warnings from Gambling Commission Executive Director Tim Miller, who earlier this year highlighted the continued presence of illegal gambling advertising online, including promotions for so-called “not on GamStop” operators.
The BGC argues that illegal operators are exploiting digital platforms to access UK consumers while operating entirely outside the regulatory framework designed to protect them.
Unlike regulated operators, black market gambling websites are not licensed by the Gambling Commission, do not carry out customer protection measures, do not contribute to research, prevention and treatment services through the statutory levy, and do not pay UK tax.
Analysis by WARC suggests illegal operators now account for almost half of all gambling advertising spend in Britain and could overtake the regulated sector entirely by 2028. Separate analysis by H2 Gambling Capital forecasts that stakes with black market operators could grow from £17bn today to £33bn by 2028.
Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said:
“The harmful black market is growing at an alarming rate, and illegal operators are exploiting online platforms to target British consumers.
“Technology companies have some of the most advanced tools, data and expertise in the world. The question is no longer whether this problem can be addressed, but whether enough is being done.
“Every consumer drawn towards an illegal operator is being pulled away from the protections of the regulated market.
“We are calling on technology platforms to match the scale of the threat with the scale of their response.”
In the open letter, the BGC calls on technology companies to proactively identify and remove illegal gambling advertising, invest more resources in disrupting black market operators, strengthen cooperation with regulators and law enforcement, increase transparency around enforcement activity and work collectively to prevent vulnerable consumers being targeted by unlicensed operators.
The post BGC Calls on Tech Giants to Protect Consumers from Illegal Gambling Sites appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
CT Interactive continues to strengthen its position in Romania’s regulated iGaming market with the certification of 25 additional game titles. Following this expansion, the company’s certified portfolio in the country now comprises 126 games, reinforcing its commitment to growth across regulated European markets.
Among the newly certified titles is Diamond Tree, CT Interactive’s latest progressive jackpot, featuring some of the company’s best-performing games. The progressive jackpot includes popular titles such as 20 Mega Slot, 20 Star Party, 40 Mega Slot, 40 Treasures, Chilli Fruits, HOT 7’s x 2, King of Clovers, Lord of Luck, Lucky Clover, Lucky Clover 20, Moon Lord, Mystic Moon, The Big Chilli, Wild Clover and Win Storm.
In addition, several standout games have also received certification for the Romanian market, including Hell’s Cherries, Happy Miner, Blazing Flower, Win Storm Deluxe and other player-favourite titles.
“Certification in Romania is an important part of our European growth strategy. This expansion not only strengthens our presence in the market but also enables us to deliver a broader and more diverse range of premium gaming content to licensed operators and their players,” said Martin Ivanov, Chief Operating Officer of CT Interactive.
Bogdan Smeu, Regional Manager Romania, added: “Romania continues to be one of the most dynamic regulated markets in the region, with increasing demand for high-quality gaming content. Expanding our certified portfolio allows us to better support our operator partners while providing players with access to proven, high-performing titles.”
With these new certifications, CT Interactive further strengthens its position in Romania, offering operators a diverse portfolio of engaging and fully compliant gaming content.
The post CT Interactive Strengthens its Presence in Romania with Newly Certified Games appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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