UK Gambling Commission to Strengthen Its Team with Head of Illegal Markets

 ^{A new Head of Illegal Markets will lead the UKGC’s fight against unlicensed gambling sites. (Image: UK Gambling Commission)}

By Daniel Smyth

Coinciding with the news that British bettors are wagering up to £17 billion every year with offshore sites, the UKGC is advertising for a new position. Part of the regulator’s £26 million effort to tackle unlicensed gambling sites, the UKGC is adding a new Head of Illegal Markets. The closing date for applications is 24 May 2026, with interviews 5-9 June 2026. 

UKGC to centralise its fight against illegal gambling sites

The job advert calls for an “experienced leader” who is comfortable leading “criminal” investigations. The successful candidate will be required to “shape” and “lead” the UKGC’s “response to illegal gambling”.

The UKGC is already taking action against illegal online gambling sites. A representative for the organisation told Casinos.com this week that recent efforts have resulted in the takedown of more than 260,000 URLs pointing to offshore betting sites.

However, it is a new job role that signals the start of the UKGC’s efforts to centralise its efforts to tackle the growing threat of unlicensed gambling sites.

A role with power

The position of Head of Illegal Markets comes with real responsibilities. Working alongside heads of other departments, including the UKGC’s legal team, the new executive will not only tackle current issues and “manage risk” but also have a hand in developing new policies.

This will involve working alongside senior stakeholders and the current Director of Enforcement and Intelligence, John Pierce. The overarching aim is to deliver the UKGC’s commitment to protecting British bettors by blocking unlicensed sites.

Timing is everything

The timing of the UKGC’s job advert is significant. New data published this week claims that British bettors are wagering up to £17 billion annually with illegal sites rather than licensed UK online casinos.

Although contested by some experts, including the UKGC, research by H2 Gambling Capital (H2GC) estimates that unlicensed operators are gaining market share.

As per the report, 92% of all betting activity in the UK is now taking place on UKGC-licensed sites. That’s down from 97% in 2019.

Salary issues

The job pays up to £65,000 per annum, which some have described as low, given the gravity of the position.

Commenting on LinkedIn, Thanzil Khan, a risk and technology assurance partner at Acumon, said the salary was “misaligned” with the “scale” of the challenge. Paul Fitchford, CEO and Founder at iGamingUK called it “pathetic”.

In this case, remuneration isn’t the only job perk. Beyond the salary, the Head of Illegal Markets will receive a Civil Service Pension, with a 28.7% contribution from the UKGC.

UKGC is preparing to clean up

Whether it's an adequate compensation package will be a matter for debate among industry commentators.

What’s not in doubt is the UKGC’s commitment to tackling illegal gambling. Success won’t be quick or easy, but another general in the ranks gives the regulator a better chance of winning the fight.