The international campaign will run from 9–13 November, encouraging consumers to check whether online gambling platforms are licensed in their jurisdiction before placing bets.
The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has announced its first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week (IGAW), taking place from 9–13 November 2026. The initiative marks the first internationally coordinated effort to raise consumer awareness of the risks associated with unlicensed online gambling.
IAGR introduced the initiative during a briefing at its Annual Conference in Lima, Peru. The campaign will support coordinated communications across member jurisdictions, with a clear central message: before you bet, check whether the platform is licensed where you are playing.
“The reach of online gambling makes this a shared challenge for regulators,” said Ben Haden, President of IAGR. “By coordinating our consumer communications, we can help more people understand why local licensing matters and where to find reliable information before they engage with an operator.”
Consumers using unlicensed gambling platforms may face unpaid winnings, limited options for resolving disputes and the misuse of their personal or financial information. They may also lack access to responsible gambling protections required of locally licensed operators.
Another concern is that consumers may unknowingly contribute to the funding of criminal organisations involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorist financing and other illicit activities.
R&R Partners, an independent marketing and communications agency specialising in public education and behaviour change campaigns, developed the creative concept and materials for IGAW.
The integrated campaign aims to raise awareness of the prevalence of unlicensed gambling websites and educate consumers about how these platforms exploit trust and how they can avoid falling victim to them.
Campaign materials will be available to all IAGR members on 6 November for distribution through their respective channels. The initial package will include 30-second and 15-second videos, social media content, a draft press release and key talking points, with English and Spanish included.
IAGR members will be able to add their agencies’ branding to the campaign materials, publish daily content throughout 9–13 November, issue local announcements and arrange media interviews. Consumer protection bodies, responsible gambling organisations and other relevant entities will also be encouraged to participate.
CheckBeforeYouPlay.org: a tool to verify gambling licences
The November campaign will feature CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, a free licensing information tool contributed by Sharp Vision, a Paris-based regulatory technology company.
Sharp Vision supports gambling regulators in monitoring markets, analysing betting and payment data, and identifying unlicensed online gambling websites.
Launching on 9 November, the tool will allow consumers to enter the URL of a gambling platform and check the available licensing information across participating IAGR member jurisdictions covered by the service. The information will be drawn from regulatory records and other verified public sources.
“People often mistake visibility for trust,” said Kevin Mullally, CEO of IAGR. “A professional-looking website or a recognisable name can give consumers confidence without knowing whether the site is properly licensed in that location. We want consumers to routinely check the licensing status of a site before opening an account or making a deposit.”
Regulators and organisations interested in participating in the initiative can contact IAGR at CEO@iagr.org.
