Modern iGaming is dynamic and driven by technology. Digital solutions have made casinos and sportsbooks accessible in just a few clicks, while the rapid development of the sector has also led to growing attention toward operational security and platform monitoring. Beyond making the services closer and more convenient to users, technologies may also serve illegal purposes, making these “business ventures” difficult to eliminate in full and adding complexities to investigations overall.
Even though criminals may use and change multiple domains, the regulators and prosecutors also update their practices and investigation tactics. Anyway, staying in the shadows is not the way to go. Otherwise, it is a direct route to negative news, investigations, and consequences. Some of the most vivid, recent cases are discussed in this review.
Another Side to the Coin in the UK: Adoption of the Online Safety Act Increased VPN Use in Black Market
The Online Safety Act came into force in July 2025. While the information from the regulator, the UK’s Gambling Commission, states that there are no real patterns for consumer engagement with illegal casino and sportsbook websites, time tracking says the contrary. Hundreds of minutes were racked up there every month. Users often access these sites thanks to VPN usage.
To this end, it is also justifiably noted that user engagement with these sites is not permanent, but fluctuates. At the same time, the Gambling Commission didn’t detect any sustained growth or any seasonal patterns for illegal gambling during its market investigations.
However, the data from the Gambling Commission indicates the peak of user engagement in 2025 was from January to March, with it spiking again in August. The slight increase was also detected from November to February 2025. However, tracking the real-life statistics is complicated because of VPN usage. The UK Gambling Commission has already applied a 30% uplift to address this trend in its investigation results. Still, there is one worrisome trend. The engagement with illegal gambling sites increased by 40% compared with the pre-legislation period.
To expand further its efforts, the UK’s regulator has significantly expanded its investigation efforts. It now combines the web traffic analysis with new research initiatives and datasets:
- The Gambling Survey across the UK
- more extensive collaboration with overseas regulatory bodies and licensed operators.
Expanding the network will help to increase the accuracy of tracking and form a more comprehensive understanding of actual user behavior. For this purpose, the regulator has even planned to work closely with licensed operators, which is eyebrow-raising. The regulator was reluctant to take this measure for ages. Given that the supervising authority has highlighted tackling illegal gambling as its regulatory priority, these preventive measures can help to achieve this goal.
Soft2Bet Strengthens Industry Discussions with Its Expertise at an International Event
For the third consecutive year, Soft2Bet participated as a headline partner at a major international industry event held on 10–11 March 2026. The event became one of the major industry gatherings of the year. It brought together senior industry leaders who are shaping its future and standards.
This year, the collaboration between the reputable platform and Soft2Bet has significantly evolved. The initial headline sponsorship has grown into an ongoing collaboration. It has considerably helped to scale the prestige of the event and its commercial impact year over year.
Overall, this iGaming event involved around 1,500 industry professionals. Interestingly, the C-level executives, directors, and founders dominated during this gathering. The event’s agenda was primarily focused on the most essential industry aspects. These are regulation, player engagement, and brand trust. They also could not omit the aspect of creating long-term value in the regulated markets.
This year’s partnership was designed to create a collaborative environment focused on strengthening professional connections and sharing expertise across the industry. Several senior Soft2Bet representatives attended the event as part of the company’s broader industry engagement activities.
Soft2Bet used the event to discuss current approaches to gamification, platform functionality, and long-term product development within regulated markets. The company also presented its turnkey solutions and participated in broader strategic discussions related to the future development of the industry.
The Need to Update AML Procedures in the iGaming Sector
The recent AML (Anti-Money Laundering) case demonstrates the practical expectations that major European regulatory authorities place on iGaming operators. The KSA most recently ordered a local, licensed gambling operator, to enhance its AML compliance associated with customer due diligence.
From the regulatory standpoint, the operators violated the Netherlands’ Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act, contributing to broader negative news surrounding compliance practices in the sector. Investigations established that the operator’s actual practices did not appropriately align with the declared policies. Attention was also directed toward financial thresholds and the methods used to identify customers associated with elevated AML concerns.
After conducting its investigations, the KSA urgently contacted the operator, demanding that the discussed aspects be addressed instantly. The operator was cooperative and made the requested changes before the investigation process was completed.
The operator may not be the only company facing similar issues, as local oversight bodies continue paying close attention to AML compliance during investigations. These efforts form part of a broader long-term approach aimed at preventing money laundering and other unlawful activities within the gambling sector. Market operators are expected to monitor customer behavior and respond to unusual activity patterns, including unusually large deposits or other indicators requiring additional verification.
Negative News: Gaming Crime Has Risen Significantly
In 2025, authorities recorded a sharp increase in gaming-related crimes compared to the previous year. Much of this growth was linked to the criminalization of illegal money exchange operations connected to gambling activities. These developments also became part of broader negative news surrounding financial control and oversight within the gaming sector.
A new law aimed at combating illegal gambling-related activities came into force on October 29, 2024, and was initially described as an important legal framework for addressing gaming-related offences, including fraud. However, the number of cases involving illegal money exchange operations rose significantly from 89 in 2024 to 471 in 2025. At the same time, fraud cases doubled from 333 to 667 after the adoption of the legislation. Authorities directly linked many of these gaming-related crimes to unlawful currency exchange activities.
Despite the overall negative news, local authorities remain confident that the number of serious gaming-related crimes remains relatively low. To this end, it is essential to note some severe crimes. The cases involving organized syndicates, including under-the-table illegal gambling, declined by 50% in 2025 compared with the previous year.
In 2025, the local police initiated 13,458 criminal investigations associated with gaming crimes in total. It has also reported about the 5.9% year-on-year decrease, which is a positive trajectory. Beyond that, serious violent crimes, cybercrime, and fraud also showed a downward trend. To decrease their levels even more, it is essential to increase the public awareness of crime prevention.
Operators Shape Their Reputation Through Strategic Decisions
The most recent industry news once again emphasizes the importance of proper compliance. At the same time, the latter is an ongoing race where criminals and unlicensed services steadily invent new and sophisticated solutions to stay and operate in the industry for as long as possible.
Beyond that, regulators also emphasize preventive measures as their priorities for tackling crime before it escalates. They draw attention to AML first, as an essential precondition to prevent illegal proceeds from appearing in the regulated industry. The recent Dutch example shows that not the violation, but the response during the investigation matters. It is essential to cooperate with the regulator and implement an effective action plan as a way to avoid any negative news, including fines. On the other hand, staying in full compliance from day one is the most viable alternative for high, yet shadowy income.