What is Regulator?
A regulator is the public body responsible for licensing, supervising and enforcing gambling law in a jurisdiction, such as the UK Gambling Commission or the Dutch Kansspelautoriteit.
Regulators issue licences, set technical and social responsibility standards, investigate complaints and breaches, and impose sanctions ranging from warnings to fines and licence revocation. Many also run or oversee self-exclusion schemes and collect market data.
Structures differ. Some regulators are independent agencies funded by licence fees, others sit inside a government ministry. In the US, regulation is mostly at state level, with tribal gaming overseen by tribal regulators and the National Indian Gaming Commission.
Regulators often coordinate internationally, for example through the International Association of Gaming Regulators and the Gaming Regulators European Forum, on issues such as match fixing and unlicensed operators. Most regulators publish enforcement decisions, licence registers and annual market statistics, which are primary sources for gambling journalism.
In the news
GuideWhere is online casino gambling legal in the US? A state-by-state guide
Eight states have legalised real-money online casinos, seven of them with live markets, while dozens allow only sports betting and a growing list has banned sweepstakes casinos.
RegulationPennsylvania weighs monthly statements to curb online gambling harm
A state lawmaker wants licensed online gaming firms to send players monthly activity statements, borrowing an idea first tried in Australia.
RegulationBrazil's central bank blocks payments to banned betting operators
New rules stop bank transfers and Pix payments to fixed-odds betting sites as Brazil enforces its nationwide prohibition.