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This is inside the Commission, a Gambling Commission podcast.
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Welcome to Inside the Commission, a podcast all about gambling in Great Britain. Here we'll cover all the latest topics and trends from across the gambling sector, and discuss the big issues that matter to you, from consumer queries to industry insights. We'll bring you the facts from the front line of regulation and share the stats and stories from those in the know.
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For all the latest discussions and updates, you can subscribe to our Gambling Commission YouTube channel, or you can find us on your preferred platform. Wherever you listen to your podcasts.
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Unknown
talk within the, the commission around being data driven. And that's part of the strategy. Do you want to tell us a bit about how that's going to work from the perspective of working on illegal activity? So
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Unknown
So first point we want to make was we started to publish figures as well around some of our activity in the space as well.
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Unknown
So it seems if you look at that, even at the point now where we are in this financial year and compared to, you know, to, to when we first started to publish some data around, you know, illegal markets where there's already been a ten fold increase in the number of URLs, for example, that we've reported to, to Google and other I see.
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Unknown
So the current figure for this year, audio 102,000, which is, you know, a real, real sort of progress. You know alongside that we've already issued 600 over 600 cease and desist, disruption notices. And it's led to action taken against, you know, 264 websites. You know, though, in the illegal market space alongside that, we've seen over 158 sites now type bots.
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Unknown
And we will have these six sites removed by registrars and 38 websites suspended and, you know, at the moment we've just relying on, all the voluntary there's no requirement at the moment. Hopefully that changes. But there's no requirement at the moment for, you know, it's all done by, you know, working and collaborating within with, you know, key partners to make sure that, you know, these websites are targeted properly as well.
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Unknown
So, yes. Made good progress. It's great to see that we're starting to get, you know, real support from those, you know, all the, all the key partners. But I think I really do think that the, the suspension work we're doing, the work that honest team are doing around sort of financial intelligence and trying to understand some of the networks around some of these websites is going to be really important to, to progressing forward.
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Unknown
what we need to do with these websites is so many that that we could look at and target. We really focus for trying to stop, illegal market activity at scale. So it comes back to trying to utilize systems that can give us data which will identify those specific websites.
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Unknown
So we've had support from that, from research and start some from Donald's team. We're looking to try and automate some of those data feeds in as well. And that's that's really important in terms of trying to tackle and target the sites, of course, and the most harm, but also trying to move away from a, you know, what was, you know, probably a manual approach two years ago to getting more automation and, and trying to, you know, really speed up, you know, some of the results we get.
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Unknown
And I think that's one of the main reasons why you seen, yeah, that huge uptick in our services that were also, you know,
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Unknown
We've also got on the imminent horizon the publication of the illegal markets report that's coming from the commission. What how do you feel about that? And what do you think the impact of that is going to be?
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Unknown
I firstly, I think it's a great piece of work that there's been lots of, reports that are out there around sort of the illegal market space. I think it's really important that we, we've been able to get the signed to, you know, look at sort of the wider issues around the legal markets there is a section there from, that the enforcement team have been responsible for working with, with colleagues, from intelligence, just to give an idea to, out there about how we sort of approach some of our legal markets work as well, and some of the, you know, obviously the figures and, responses that we've had agree.
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Unknown
But we really want to make sure that you know, we're not, overstating the position in any way. And we recognize with this for having to learn a bit as we go, there's no rulebook. We have to just try and react to something which is constantly changing and evolving. I think. I think a real key piece that I, I think was really useful from the, from the work that the research and starts team have done is just around it, understanding it more from a consumer perspective.
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Unknown
So I think there's lots of bits that are missing with this. You know what? Why? You know what's causing these spikes? Why are we seeing, you know, individual or vulnerable consumers, being targeted by some of these websites? You know, it might appear obvious on the face of it, when it's advertising through, not on cam style. But again, that's not the full picture.
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Unknown
That's not necessarily every side we we deal with is emphasized in that way. So I think anything we can do to try and improve the overall, you know, understanding of what's going on, how it works and why people are attracted to these websites, and an ability, I think, to highlight some of the risks as well, around go into some of these illegal websites.
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Unknown
It's going to be a really important part of that work. When it's published.
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Unknown
There have been some interesting cases recently where we've had intelligence reports on sports betting. Could you tell us a bit about those?
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Unknown
So there's been them wolves. We've got sports betting, integrity function within the Gambling Commission.
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Unknown
And that plays a really important role in terms of know understanding, you know, some of the wider issues around, any, any of sort of, fairness in the marketplace so that, that, that team, will do referrals to, you know, the law enforcement agencies. What we what we've started to do is to look at trying to investigate some of those cases within, within, obviously using the powers of the Gambling Commission.
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Unknown
And that's something, again, that's sort of grown over the last couple of years. So we are starting to see issues across a number of different sectors. And there's been lots of media releases around issues around, even things like table tennis that you perhaps wouldn't expect would have integrity issues, you know, issues around tennis, issues around football.
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Unknown
We've got, you know, cases involving, in Cyprus, issues around boxing, for example. So it's really important for Westport in the regulated sector to make sure that these market and, consumers, to make sure that these markets are fair and when we're able to identify evidence that things are right or things have gone wrong, then we're in a position where we what we can't take action.
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Unknown
But, you know, a lot of the work we've done there has been really building up, you know, collaboration opportunities with some of the, you know, the sports, bodies as well. So there's been lots of them. I'd say this year I'll make sure we call out all our emojis in place so we can share information with each other.
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Unknown
And again, that's an area that we like to see as kind of continue to build over time. And we'll obviously we'll, we'll take action and we'll be more available to release in due course when those investigations are finished. Yeah, yeah. As John said, our sports betting intelligence unit have really good relationships with, governing bodies across sports.
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Unknown
We receive intelligence from them and also share intelligence with them and work jointly with them. We also meet regularly with, sports betting, intelligence and integrity units across the, across the globe. To share best practice. And again, look at any emerging trends that people are seeing perhaps in different countries. E-sports betting is is quite a big one at the moment.
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Unknown
They'll be looking at doing some work on going forward, which is come about through meetings with regulators in other countries. And I've given unashamedly plug because there is a podcast on sports betting integrity, which you can watch, you can listen to now.
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Unknown
me to it. I was I was also going to plug the other episodes.
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Unknown
If anyone is listening to this and would like to know more about, the race into the podcast featuring Nick and talking about these aspects and this, yeah, some interesting stuff in there,
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Unknown
I think. I think of. What is the point? I'd say on that as well. It's just, you know, been and the relationships been really positive with the sports bodies as well. I think the more, able sort of show some of the activity that we've done.
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Unknown
And I think we've really started to build strong relationships there as well. So, you know, as I said, you know, I think we continue to identify issues around any, any form, you know, betting on sports. I think the relationships we built a really can be really key in terms of finding a way to say those cases forward next time.
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Unknown
Could you tell us about the first strategic assessment that the commission is doing at the moment? And what this means for the work of the team?
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Unknown
Yeah, this is something I'm really excited about that the team are working on. So this teaching assessment will look at all current and long term issues that could potentially impact on the Gambling Commission, and it will use a nationally recognized risk assessment tool to look at each thematic area and risk assessment in terms of harm, threat and risk.
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Unknown
So using that will be able to prioritize. So right, so so using that will be able to determine our priorities across the Commission for operational results. Now you've heard that we do receive a lot of intelligence around the legal market. And unfortunately I've not got infinite resources. So we have to concentrate the resources we have where there is greatest risk and harm.
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Unknown
And the strategic assessment will really help us do that by looking at those that risk assessment
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Unknown
And also we'll be reaching out to key stakeholders to give us some information and some data that will help inform that assessment. And we'll be looking at where the gaps in our intelligence picture are and making recommendations going forward to pursue, protect and prevent, these issues from increasing or becoming more harmful and to try and disrupt where we can.
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Unknown
I think I'd say alongside that as well, I think we'll be it'll be really positive for us, you know, in terms of having it, having something that we can it, we can support the work that we're doing internally as well. But again, it will give, you know, greater oversight as well to, to operators in terms of kind of where our areas of focus on why we focus on those areas, because we use intelligence to direct, you know, where our resources need to be.
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Unknown
I think alongside that, there's an opportunity as well to start sharing that sort of document with your key partners, such as, you know, National Crime Agency. It's really important. There was Donna said earlier on about, you know, some of the links that we're aware of to, you know, organized crime groups, for example, it's really important to make sure that she sees on the mark in terms of the wider law enforcement network.
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Unknown
You know, these are important issues that we need to try and tackle. It might not all be sat with the government commission to deal with. We might need to go to partner agencies and get that support as well. Yeah. So having an awareness and then just any police force, yeah, they can. Yeah. It's about Wednesday night. You speak to Brexit seeking advice about that.
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Unknown
Yeah. And with using that nationally recognized risk assessment tool which is similar to law enforcement as well. It just helps to, perhaps and get them engaged with joint working. And to be able to risk assessed against perhaps their own, their own assessments as well. It also offers a consistent approach to west across the commission.
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Unknown
And yeah, like I said, it will just help target all of our resources to be more effective in to where they're actually needed. The analysts will be looking at any emerging trends and risks on the horizon as well. So if there is something that isn't a priority at the moment, we can always do a assessment on that.
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Unknown
And, if we've got that intelligence there to show that this is actually a risk and needs to be pushed perhaps a bit higher, then, we can we can it's not set in stone. The priorities. We can amend them and move them as far as the intelligence picture shows,
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Unknown
I suppose the final closing question would be around then. Lots of people listening to this, whether they're consumers, whether they bet, whether they work in industry, we're all citizens of this country. How best can people make sort of any report to give you any Intel if they think that something isn't quite right? What is the best way for them to do that?
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Unknown
I
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Unknown
Well, let's say we receive intelligence reports from all different sources. Members of the public industry, partner agencies. The best way to report anything to us is probably through our confidential portal, which can be accessed via the Gambling Commission website.
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Unknown
As it says, it is confidential, but you can leave your name and contact details if you wish to as well. I would say though, perhaps your perhaps you might think that the intelligence information you've got is not useful or won't be helpful. But it could be that final piece of the jigsaw, that golden nugget that will really help us cooperate.
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Unknown
Intelligence or like, say, be that final piece of the puzzle that will help our Intel development. So if you have any information on legal markets or licensed and providers, yeah, I would encourage you to and use the community portal to make a report. I think I think, you know, alongside that, the other message is, you know, keep reporting as well.
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Unknown
So we get lots of instances where it could be, there's an issue with an illegal, based casino and they think, you know, someone does one report to us, which is continue and keep reporting it. No more bits information that you got. It's dangerous that it could be part of it. You know, part of a bigger piece of work.
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Unknown
And that might really help. But also we really need to know whether some of these issues are still continuing. You know, a lot of it basically with the the land side of, illegal markets, it's quite transient. It'll move around different premises. It's it's really difficult to try and target that for if we've got strong intelligence and we've got regular reports coming in about an issue, it will absolutely be looked at.
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Unknown
And we we'll take action where we can.
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Unknown
Excellent. Well, thank you both very much for your time today. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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Unknown
This is inside the Commission, a Gambling Commission podcast to stay up to date with the latest content. You can subscribe to our Gambling Commission YouTube channel, or you can find us on your preferred platform wherever you listen to your podcasts. Thanks for listening.