Experts Concerned About the Rise of Illegal Betting Activity
Illegal betting is rising across Europe and posing an increasing problem, according to the chair of the French Gambling Authority (ANJ)
The ANJ is among the bodies combating illegal gambling in Europe. © ClickerHappy, Pixabay
Key Facts:
- ICE Barcelona has hosted a round-table on illegal gambling in Europe
- ANJ chair Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin among the experts invited to speak on the topic
- Bashir Are of the Lagos State Lotteries & Gaming Authority also appeared on the panel
- Lisa Osofsky of AlixPartners and PAGCOR director Gilbert Remulla completed the panel of experts
Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin was among the experts invited to speak on the topic of black market gambling at a recent round table as part of the ICE Barcelona industry event.
Chief executive of the Lagos State Lotteries & Gaming Authority Bashir Are also appeared on the panel along with director of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Gilbert Remulla and Lisa Osofsky, the former director at UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) who is now the partner managing director at AlixPartners.
Falque-Pierrotin suggested illegal activity can no longer be seen as a “niche” due to the fact it is growing in many markets and said it is expanding in most European jurisdictions.
Africa A Dumping Ground?
Are, whose organisation is based in Nigeria, compared the way Africa is being exploited by illegal gambling companies to how the continent has been used in the past.
He said: “Twenty, thirty years ago, Africa was a dumping ground for toxic waste from all over the world.”
“I think we are experiencing that now in the gaming sector too.”
Cross-border collaboration was cited by many of the experts on the panel – Navigating the Illegal Market: Cross-Jurisdictional Challenges in Identification & Enforcement – as a solution.
Are added: “For example, Lagos State has a bilateral agreement with the country of Botswana. So if you are illegal in Lagos State, and you have a licence in Botswana, we can both enforce on that, and we’re doing that with so many jurisdictions right now.”
He said: “If there’s no collaboration, there’s no way you can fight illegal gambling.”
Illegal Operations Cut In Philippines
While black market gambling is rising in many markets, the Philippines could show a solution.
PAGCOR director Remulla said illegal operators once made up a huge 90% of its gaming market, but this has since been cut to 50%.
Dropping taxes encouraged some illegal operators to go straight, while stronger law enforcement collaboration also helped.
President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr has shut down the country’s offshore gaming industry in a bid to tackle the problem.
Osofsky pointed out fighting illegal gambling can be a challenge as it is so hard to define.
What is for sure is black market betting will remain a hot topic in the industry for years to come and will continue to be debated at events like ICE Barcelona.
