UKGC's Rhodes urges industry to conduct black market due diligence

Gambling Commission chief executive Andrew Rhodes has warned suppliers and operators should be carrying out due diligence against industry partners as the UK regulator steps up its action against the black market. His comments at an International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) webinar came after the UKGC opened an investigation into Evolution Malta’s licence.

The Commission had identified Evolution games being accessible from the UK through illegal operators.

Evolution may avoid any regulatory action but it could also face financial sanctions as well as suspension and the revocation of its licence.

Rhodes said this week that the Gambling Commission will continue such investigatory work – and that companies should now be making sure they can trust the companies they work with.

“If the Commission feels it is necessary to suspend or revoke the licence of any operator or supplier, then their activity ceases immediately,” Rhodes said.

“Whatever they are supplying you with, stops – immediately. So, I would say that anyone who is reliant on a third party needs to be comfortable they are not likely to face that risk and if you think you are, I would be doing something about that now.”

Rhodes sought to clarify his earlier comments after he reported some misinterpretation – from his end at least – into the topic.

“I have said before that everyone in the legitimate industry should undertake their own due diligence that their suppliers and partners are not engaged in unlicensed activity facing into the UK,” he said.

“Some have interpreted my remarks here as meaning I think the industry should be policing this rather than the regulator. Actually, I do not understand why anyone in the licenced industry would want to be in business with a company that is supporting illegal competition – it makes no sense to me at all and would suggest the illegal market is not the issue some suggest, if this was deemed acceptable.

“My deeper point though is as we enter 2025, we are continuing to use our new capabilities around covert test purchasing and other investigative tools to identify those who are assisting illegal operators, as well as targeting those illegal operators directly.”

https://www.intergameonline.com/igaming/news/ukgcs-rhodes-urges-industry-to-conduct-black-market-due-diligence