Searches for sites outside GamStop and concerns about sharing personal data were the two strongest factors linked to illegal online gambling use in a Gambling Commission report published on 20 October 2026. The regulator says this behaviour remains limited to a small minority of people who gamble.

The report is research, not a new rule or enforcement decision. The Commission says it will use the findings to inform its monitoring and future strategy.

Two frustrations stood out

The research examined why people in Great Britain use illegal online gambling websites. Access-related frustrations featured more strongly than seeking better odds or a better gambling experience:

  • Looking for sites that are not blocked by GamStop, the UK’s online self-exclusion scheme.
  • Choosing websites expected to ask for less personal information.

The Commission said these factors were strongly linked to illegal-site use across nearly all the user groups it studied. The research does not show that checks alone cause people to use illegal sites. It also found that some users encounter similar frustrations on those sites, but without the same protections.

What the findings mean

Searches for “not on GamStop” can lead people to sites associated with fewer checks, faster withdrawals and alternative payment options, the Commission said. Its digital research suggests the phrase can reflect more than a wish to bypass self-exclusion.

The report also distinguishes between people who deliberately seek illegal sites and those whose use may be unintentional. That difference matters as the Commission tracks who uses these websites and how market practices or regulatory action may affect the mix.

The report will inform the Gambling Commission’s monitoring and future strategy, but it does not announce a new licence condition, legal change or enforcement action.

For people using gambling services, the findings highlight a practical tension: identity checks can feel like friction, while unlicensed websites do not provide the same regulatory protections. The Commission’s stated next step is to use the research as evidence, not to impose a rule announced in the report.