On November 6, 2025, Andrew Rhodes, the Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, gave his annual "CEO Briefing 2025" speech. In it, he talked about the UK gambling sector's many problems, such as the growing threat of cryptocurrencies, ongoing illegal market activity, and problems with funding for regulations.
What the job is and what the rules are
Rhodes started by restating the Commission's position, making it clear that the organization works within a mandate provided by law and government policy. It does not make its own gaming policy. He highlighted that the regulator must "aim to allow gambling as long as it is in line with the licensing objectives."
He also said that the debates around gaming regulation have become more heated in recent years, unlike the early time after the White Paper. He noted that while the industry has made real progress in following the rules, the regulator's position and powers are still being questioned in court and in public debate.
Fight against illicit gambling
The speech's main point was how the illegal economy is getting more attention. Rhodes said that the Commission's special unit on illegal operations, which was set up about three years ago, had done a lot of work this financial year:
- Sent 480 "stop and desist" letters to advertising and operators.
- Reported 188,297 URLs to search engines, and 104,192 of them have been taken down.
- In the UK, 659 websites were taken down or geo-blocked, while 504 websites were disrupted (either taken down or geo-blocked).
Rhodes stressed how dangerous the illegal market is, especially for people who are already in a bad situation, and how unfair it is for legal licensees to have to pay fees and taxes.
Clear signals about enforcement
Rhodes made it plain that enforcement will be strict: licensed B2B suppliers that help black-market businesses will no longer get warnings ahead of time. “There's no excuse. We won't take any excuses.
And you should expect to see further enforcement action in the next few weeks and months.
He said that the recent suspensions of software suppliers and operators who didn't follow self-exclusion or AML rules were signs that things would get tougher.
New crypto challenge
The speech's mention of cryptocurrency was one of the most forward-looking parts. Rhodes noted that the rise of crypto use among younger people is now a "pressure building within the system," and what once felt like a distant worry (five years away) is now "an 18-month-to-two-year challenge."
He made it clear that the Commission is not currently giving licenses to crypto-gambling operators in the UK. However, he stressed that choices will need to be made at the government level because concerns like the source of wealth, money traceability, and regulatory scope come up.
Costs, resources, and money from the government
Rhodes raised a red flag about how the Commission gets its money. The regulator is supported solely by fees, not by taxes, and the fee review, which was supposed to happen in 2024 according to the White Paper, has been pushed back. Because of this, the Commission could run out of money by mid-2026, which would put continuous investment in illegal-market regulations, data, and investigations at risk.
He said that fees are not linked to inflation or uprating, which means that the Commission may not have enough money as the rules get more complicated.
What the future holds and what it means for the industry
Rhodes said that the briefing was a chance for the industry to "look ahead" and get ready. He said that both the regulator and the business were facing big questions, such as tax debates, the role of regulation versus growth, and new ways to enforce the law.
Some important things for the industry to remember are that there will be more scrutiny on supplier networks and software partners, there will be more urgency regarding crypto and fintech crossings, and reforms may take longer because of a lack of resources at the regulatory level.
"What I thought would be a problem in five years, maybe a year or two ago, I now see as a challenge that will last 18 months to two years."
Andrew Rhodes
Editor's thoughts
Andrew Rhodes's 2025 briefing had a very proactive tone: the regulator will speed up enforcement, the illegal and crypto markets are no longer distant issues, and the Commission itself is having trouble getting financing. The message is obvious for regulated operators: just following the rules isn't enough anymore. They need to be on the lookout for new risks, digital growth opportunities, and collaborations. The sector is entering a time when regulatory demands, changes in technology, and market scrutiny all come together. The next two years will be very important.