IAGR Unveils International “Illegal Gambling Awareness Week” Initiative

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has unveiled a new international initiative to raise awareness of the dangers of the illegal gambling market. Dubbed Illegal Gambling Awareness Week (IGAW), this new initiative is an unprecedented effort to warn customers on an international scale. IAGR Wants Players to Know the Risks IGAW will run from November 9 to 13, sending a clear message to players – “before you bet, check whether the site is licensed where you are playing.” Announced at the recent IAGR annual conference in Lima, Peru, this new initiative seeks to help players discern between legal and illegal operators and understand what the risks of playing with illegal companies are. The launch of IGAW comes amid continued concerns about the prevalence of unlicensed gambling. Studies in many mature markets have previously concluded that many players do not engage in illegal gambling on purpose and only do so because they are unaware that the sites they are playing with are unlicensed. Indeed, the growth of the black market has resulted in many legitimate-looking websites that can sometimes fool even seasoned gamers. Regardless of why players are enjoying unlicensed gaming, IAGR emphasized that such companies carry risks of unpaid winnings, limited options for resolving disputes, and misuse of customer information. Such sites may also lack responsible gambling tools meant to mitigate risky gambling. To top it all off, illegal gambling operators are sometimes used to fund criminal organizations involved in drug and human trafficking, or even terrorism. The IGAW campaign has been developed in partnership with R&R Partners. Campaign materials include short videos, social media content, a press release, and talking points, and will be available on November 6 for all IAGR members to distribute on their channels. The campaign will also champion a new tool called CheckBeforeYouPlay.org. Developed by Sharp Vision, this new technology helps customers check whether a website is regulated in the market they are in. Visibility Does Not Equal Trust, IAGR Says Ben Haden, IAGR’s president, commented on the growing reach of unregulated online gambling, calling it a “shared challenge for regulators.” By coordinating our consumer communications, we can help more people understand why local licensing matters and where to find reliable information before they engage with an operator. Ben Haden, president, IAGR IAGR’s CEO, Kevin Mullally, also commented on the matter, saying that many players mistake visibility for trust. A professional-looking website or a recognizable name can give consumers confidence without knowing whether the site is properly licensed in that location. We want consumers to routinely check the licensing status of a site before opening an account or making a deposit.” Kevin Mullally, CEO, IAGR IAGR invited companies that wish to participate in the initiative to contact it directly.