IAGR launches illegal gambling awareness campaign and site-checking tool
Regulation1 min read
Source: AGCO (Ontario)
The International Association of Gaming Regulators launched its first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, running from 9 to 13 November, with Ontario’s CAJO taking part. IAGR introduced a tool that lets users check whether a gambling website is authorised in their jurisdiction, using regulatory records and other verified public sources.
The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has launched a website-checking tool alongside its first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, which runs from 9 to 13 November, Ontario's AGCO said. AGCO said it was taking part in the global campaign.
The tool lets users enter a gambling site's address to check whether it is authorised in their jurisdiction, where its status may differ from that elsewhere. Results draw on regulatory registers and other verified public sources.
IAGR president Brian Krolicki said illegal gambling sites were becoming more numerous, sophisticated and visible, making them harder to distinguish from legitimate operators. IAGR chief executive Kevin Mullally said familiar sites might not be authorised locally and some illegal operators deliberately made sites look credible to deceive players.
AGCO said unauthorised sites could leave consumers without recourse, dispute resolution or safer gambling protections, and expose their financial information to fraudsters. AGCO chief executive and registrar Karin Schnarr said operators outside Ontario's regulated framework might not provide its player protections, even if they appeared legitimate.