Gambling Commission Details Enforcement, Regulatory Updates

Key Takeaways:

Gambling Commission suspended Targetlocal Ltd's remote operating licence.
Raids in Manchester led to four arrests and £20,000 cash seizure.
New industry statistics for April 2025 to March 2026 were published.
Online operators reminded of deposit limit requirements by September 2026.
Casino operators received reminders on land-based regulatory changes.
Financial vulnerability check data requested from remote operators in October.
DCMS launched consultation on prohibiting Powerball third-party bets.

The Gambling Commission has published its latest e-bulletin, detailing a series of enforcement actions, regulatory developments, and research initiatives impacting the gambling sector. Key announcements include illegal gambling raids in Manchester, the suspension of an operator licence, and the release of new industry statistics. The bulletin also provided reminders about upcoming regulatory changes for online operators.

Enforcement Actions and Licence Suspension

The Gambling Commission, supported by Manchester City Council’s Licensing Team, assisted Greater Manchester Police during raids on four properties in Manchester city centre. These operations were part of an investigation into suspected illegal gambling activity, resulting in four arrests. Officers seized mobile phones, gambling tables, records, account books, and other gambling-related materials. More than £20,000 in cash was recovered using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The Commission stated that this operation demonstrates ongoing efforts to tackle unlicensed gambling and disrupt illegal gambling networks.

Separately, the Gambling Commission suspended the combined remote operating licence held by Targetlocal Ltd, which trades as Ken Howell’s Sports Betting and operates the website kenhowells.com. The newsletter did not provide further details regarding the reasons for the suspension. However, this action means the operator’s licence is no longer active while the matter is investigated.

Regulatory Updates and Industry Data

The Commission released its latest Industry Statistics annual report, covering the period from April 2025 to March 2026. Alongside the annual report, fourth-quarter industry statistics for January to March 2026 were published, as well as the latest Gambling Survey for Great Britain participation data. These publications provide updated information on gambling participation, industry performance, and sector trends, with key findings highlighted in an accompanying blog and additional premises-based data.

Casino operators and licensing authorities received a reminder following legislative changes introduced by the Government in 2025 to modernise land-based casino regulation in England and Wales. Enquiries received since these changes came into force have revealed misunderstandings in several areas. These include the definition and calculation of non-gambling areas within casino premises, restrictions affecting 1968 Act casinos with gambling areas below 1,500 square metres as of May 12, 2025, and requirements for detailed scale plans when seeking premises licence variations. Operators granted variations since July 22, 2025, have been urged to review their applications to ensure compliance with both the legal framework and Commission guidance.

Further Policy and Research Initiatives

The Commission has reminded operators that the second phase of reforms to gambling-management tools will come into force on September 30, 2026. Under these updated requirements, all online gambling operators must provide customers with the ability to set a deposit limit based solely on the amount paid into their account during a specified period, affecting how online casino payment methods are processed. The regulator said these changes are intended to improve clarity for consumers. Operators may continue to offer other forms of limits, such as loss limits, but only the standardised deposit-based tool may be described as a “deposit limit.”

Remote casino, betting, and bingo operators will be asked to provide information to the Commission in October about their implementation of financial vulnerability checks during the 2025-26 financial year. This exercise will help assess the impact of the policy following the reduction of the spending threshold that triggers such checks, with operators having three weeks to respond. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has opened a consultation on proposals to prohibit licensed operators from offering third-party bets on Powerball draws. The consultation is open until November 4, 2026, and seeks views on whether such betting products should continue to be permitted under the Gambling Act 2005 framework. The Commission also highlighted new research examining what “informed choice” means to gambling consumers. This study explores how consumers understand gambling-related information and what factors influence their decision-making when participating in gambling activities. Additionally, the latest episode of the Gambling Commission’s “Inside the Commission: TLDR” podcast examines illegal lotteries, online raffles, and prize giveaways, discussing warning signs for consumers, common misconceptions, and circumstances in which such activities may breach gambling laws.