Global Regulatory Alliance Proposed to Confront Illegal Gambling, Says KSA Chair
Dutch regulator Michel Groothuizen wants to take the battle against unlicensed gambling global. Speaking at IAGR 2025, he suggested building a cross-border regulatory alliance — a “Gambling Interpol” — to confront offshore operators that continue to undermine legal markets.
Regulated Market, Persistent Black Market
At the conference, Kansspelautoriteit chair Michel Groothuizen reiterated that while the Dutch online gambling market achieved high participation in licensed sites, the gross gaming revenue share of regulated casino operators has slipped. That gap is eye-opening: the minority of players on unlicensed sites now account for nearly half the spend.
Tools Without Teeth? A Regulatory Dilemma
Groothuizen noted the regulatory lag: unlicensed operators exploit expired domains, leverage social-media influencers and reroute payments to sidestep national enforcement. He lamented the Dutch willingness to preserve internet openness, which in turn constrained rigorous action like IP blocking or domain takedowns.
A New Framework for International Control
In response, he proposed a regulatory structure mimicking INTERPOL — an international network of regulators empowered to coordinate investigations, share data and apply pressure on the systems enabling the black market. The objective: treat illegal gambling as a global threat demanding a global response.
A Landmark Shift Towards Global Regulatory Unity
Groothuizen’s speech signalled a landmark moment in regulatory thinking. The illegal gambling sector may operate outside borders — and now regulation must follow suit. While the “gambling Interpol” remains conceptual, its unveiling reflects regulators’ readiness to play on a global stage against the most dynamic threat to the industry.
