IAGR Launches First International Illegal Gambling Awareness Week
Peru.- 29 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has announced the inaugural Illegal Gambling Awareness Week (IGAW), an international initiative designed to educate consumers about the risks of using unlicensed online gambling and sports betting platforms.
The campaign will run from 9 to 13 November 2026, encouraging players to verify operators’ regulatory authorisations before placing bets online.
The initiative was unveiled during IAGR’s annual conference in Lima, Peru, and will involve coordinated communications from gambling regulators across participating jurisdictions.
International Campaign Against Illegal Gambling
The first edition of IGAW aims to strengthen cooperation between gambling regulatory authorities.
The initiative responds to the growing availability of online betting platforms operating without the required licences in the jurisdictions they serve.
IAGR believes that many consumers use these websites without understanding their regulatory status.
The campaign seeks to help players distinguish between licensed gambling companies and unauthorised operators.
Campaign Runs From 9 to 13 November
The five-day initiative will feature coordinated consumer awareness messages across participating jurisdictions.
Its central message is:
“Before you bet, check whether the site is licensed where you are playing.”
IAGR hopes to establish licence verification as a routine practice among online gambling customers.
The objective is to encourage consumers to confirm an operator’s legal status before opening an account or depositing money.
Risks Associated With Unlicensed Gambling Platforms
IAGR has identified several risks associated with gambling operators functioning outside regulated markets.
The main concerns include:
- Unpaid winnings: customers may encounter difficulties withdrawing their money.
- Limited consumer protection: inadequate dispute resolution mechanisms.
- Misuse of personal data: potential exposure of financial and personal information.
- Lack of responsible gambling safeguards: absence of self-exclusion tools and other protective measures.
- Financial crime risks: illegal platforms may be used to channel funds towards criminal activities.
The association warned that some unlicensed operators may be connected to criminal organisations involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking and other illicit activities.
IAGR Introduces a New Licence Verification Tool
One of the campaign’s central features will be the introduction of CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, a free online tool designed to help consumers verify gambling operators’ licensing information.
The service will allow users to enter a website address and review available information about its regulatory authorisations.
The technology was developed by Sharp Vision, a Paris-based company specialising in regulatory monitoring solutions.
The tool is scheduled to launch on 9 November 2026, coinciding with the beginning of IGAW.
How CheckBeforeYouPlay.org Will Work
The platform will use regulatory registers and other verified public sources to provide licensing information.
Consumers will be able to enter a gambling website’s URL and check available records for jurisdictions covered by the service.
The initiative aims to simplify a process that can be difficult for users unfamiliar with individual national licensing registers.
However, the tool will initially cover only participating jurisdictions included in its database.
Website: https://CheckBeforeYouPlay.org
Statements From IAGR’s President
Ben Haden, President of IAGR, highlighted the importance of international coordination in addressing unlicensed online gambling.
“The reach of online gambling makes this a shared challenge for regulators,” he stated.
Haden explained that coordinated communication efforts can help consumers understand the importance of local licensing and identify reliable regulatory information.
The initiative aims to strengthen public awareness of the distinction between locally authorised gambling websites and unlicensed operators.
Professional Appearance Does Not Guarantee Legality
Kevin Mullally, Chief Executive Officer of IAGR, warned that the appearance and visibility of gambling websites can create a misleading sense of security.
“People often mistake visibility for trust,” he said.
According to Mullally, professional website design and recognisable branding can encourage confidence even when customers do not know whether an operator is licensed in their jurisdiction.
The executive emphasised the importance of checking a site’s licensing status before registering or making a deposit.
R&R Partners Develops the Campaign
The communications strategy was developed by R&R Partners, an independent agency specialising in public education and behaviour change campaigns.
The initiative includes promotional and educational materials designed for distribution by gambling regulators and consumer protection organisations.
The campaign package will contain:
- A 30-second video.
- A 15-second video.
- Social media content.
- Draft press releases.
- Key messages and talking points.
The initial materials will be available in English and Spanish.
Regulators to Receive Materials on 6 November
IAGR confirmed that participating members will gain access to campaign materials on 6 November 2026.
Regulators will be able to incorporate their institutional branding into the communications assets.
They may also publish daily campaign content, arrange interviews and issue local announcements throughout the awareness week.
The association intends to expand the initiative’s reach through collaboration with consumer protection bodies and responsible gambling organisations.
Addressing the Challenge of Unlicensed Websites
The initiative comes amid continuing concerns about international gambling platforms targeting consumers without obtaining local authorisation.
IAGR maintains that some players use these services without realising they operate outside their jurisdiction’s legal framework.
The association believes public education campaigns can complement regulatory enforcement, website blocking and other supervisory measures.
Providing accessible licensing information is therefore considered an additional tool for protecting online gambling consumers.
Industry Impact and Next Steps
The inaugural Illegal Gambling Awareness Week aims to establish a coordinated communication strategy among international gambling regulators.
The release of campaign materials on 6 November and the launch of CheckBeforeYouPlay.org on 9 November will mark the initiative’s first major milestones.
During the five-day campaign, participating authorities will distribute educational materials highlighting the risks associated with unlicensed gambling platforms.
Through this initiative, IAGR aims to make licence verification a routine consumer practice and strengthen protection against the growing risks associated with illegal online gambling.
Edited by: @fonta
