By Simon Thomas, Executive Chairman, The Hippodrome Casino
The regulated gambling industry has a duty — to its customers, to the public and to itself — to clearly and consistently distance itself from the unregulated sector. The line must not be blurred. It is our responsibility to ensure that everything we do meets the highest standards of compliance, player protection and social responsibility. Anything less not only damages reputations – it damages lives.
Unregulated online gambling platforms operate in the shadows. They are not taxed. They do not contribute to funding treatment and prevention. They do not adhere to the same advertising codes, the same player verification processes or the same responsible gambling frameworks that licensed UK operators must uphold.
And yet they aggressively target UK consumers – often through backdoor deals and banner adverts, some of which, until recently, appeared on otherwise respectable Web sites. Credit must go to Peter White and the team at Casino Life for recognizing this risk and taking action to remove such advertising. It is a vital first step. But the problem is much bigger than one Web site. The regulated sector must collectively commit to rooting this out wherever it appears.
That includes refusing indirect partnerships and scrutinizing affiliate activity with far greater rigor. Because the harm is real. When a vulnerable player clicks through to an unregulated site, there is no self-exclusion scheme. No time-outs. No stake limits. No intervention. And when something goes wrong, there’s no one to call. This is not a grey market – it’s a black hole.
We must be absolutely clear in our stance: The regulated sector must not lend credibility, audience or digital space to illegal operators. The Hippodrome, like many in the land-based sector, abides by the toughest compliance environment anywhere in the world. That should be a source of pride – and a standard we demand from anyone who wishes to do business in or with our industry. Protecting our license to operate means drawing a hard line. Because there’s only one kind of gambling we should ever promote – legal, safe
and regulated.
*** This article was originally published in the April 2025 edition of Casino Life Magazine Issue 176***
