Surge in illegal European iGaming sites blocked during the first half of 2020
The number of gambling websites blocked across Europe rose by 17 per cent during the first six months of this year, to reach 93,632 sites on the 30th June, according to VIXIO Gambling Compliance, a company that specializes in compliance with the regulatory framework of the gambling sector and providing business intelligence to the industry.
The internet domains of online gaming sites that are not licensed in a given territory are gathered by local governments and regulators and then blocked by internet service providers. The figures released by VIXIO, which includes information from seventeen European countries, represent an increase of 42% on the year.
The annual growth in blocked iGaming domains comes mainly from Turkey, which in the first six months of 2020 has contributed 17,400 domains to the VIXIO list, compared to 16,000 domains for the same period in the previous year. Cyprus continued its ascending trajectory, with 4,507 illegal iGaming sites being added to the blocked list from January to June 2020, a total of 13,239 sites for the year – aggregating the second half of 2019 – a figure that doubles the number two years back.
In the rest of the countries examined (Croatia, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Belgium, Slovakia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Estonia, Greece, Poland, and Italy) the number of reported blocked domains rose by almost 11,900, up 38% on the year, while January to June 2020 saw a rise of 33%.
The data from the first half of the year is of special relevance if we take into account how the coronavirus pandemic, and the cancellation of major professional sporting events that followed, affected the regular working patterns of the iGaming industry. Given the situation, numerous operators have opted to explore additional opportunities online.
Blocking iGaming domains, a tool to deal with illegal operators
In this context, the blocking of illegal iGaming domains has become a vital tool for governments and regulators that are fighting against online gambling websites operating without a licence. In this respect, half a dozen European countries monitored by VIXIO have intensified their activity of domain blocking in the first six months of 2020, compared to the same period last year.
The blocking of iGaming websites has proliferated throughout Europe in recent years as part of an effort from regulatory bodies to curb the activities of illegal operators in their jurisdictions. One of the countries not included in VIXIO´s study, but that also actively blocks illegal websites, is Spain. Spain blocks illegal iGaming domains through the gambling regulator Direccion General de Ordenacion del Juego – DGOJ
According to the last annual report on online gaming in Spain, for 2019, the DGOJ blocked 196 unlicensed gambling websites in the country; and since its creation, back in June 2012, it has blocked a total 1,459 sites. June 2012 is the date when Spain introduced a licensing system for online operators, and ever since the Spanish iGaming industry has been stable and focused on consumer rights protections.
To avoid using websites without iGaming licenses we advise using the services of betting comparison sites, such as MisCasasdeApuestas.com. Through this portal, bettors gain free access to analyses and comparisons of the best bookmakers that are legally operating online in Spain; that is, with a license from the DGOJ.
…
The post Surge in illegal European iGaming sites blocked during the first half of 2020 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming – News – Interviews – Legal Market Updates – Premium Reports – Events – Directory.
Source: Eastern European Gaming
You must be logged in to post a comment.