Skip to content
Vegas Slots Online
  • News Home
  • US News
  • World News
  • Crime
  • People
  • Sports
  • Slot Releases
  • Casino
  • Poker
  • Legislation
  • Financial

Home News Gambling Commission and UK Law Enforcement Team Up in Facebook Illegal Lottery Shutdown

Gambling Commission and UK Law Enforcement Team Up in Facebook Illegal Lottery Shutdown

  • The UKGC worked with the Government Agency Intelligence Network and Facebook
  • Two individuals operated the illegal lotteries offering cash, toys, and kids’ clothing as prizes
  • The Commission plans to focus on illegal lotteries offered on social media this year
  • Netherlands regulators also stopped illegal lottery and bingo gaming on Facebook in 2021
Sadonna Price

February 2, 2022February 2, 2022
Facebook logo surrounded by thumbs down
The UK Gambling Commission and UK law enforcement partnered with Facebook to shut down illegal lottery games on the social media platform. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Ending illegal social media lotteries

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) announced the shutdown of an illegal Facebook lottery after an investigation in partnership with UK law enforcement. The Commission teamed up with the Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN) and Facebook specialists to confirm and disrupt the unlicensed lotteries offered via the platform.

offered participants cash prizes, kids’ clothing, and toys

The illegal lotteries offered participants cash prizes, kids’ clothing, and toys. Officials identified two individuals as the promoters of the lottery and removed them from associated groups on Facebook. The North East Regional Special Operations and South West Regional Organized Crime Units issued cease and desist letters to the groups involved.

Facebook lottery shutdown details

Hundreds of people reportedly took part in the illegal lotteries, and officials used the investigation to determine who organized and oversaw the contests. Gambling Commission executive director Helen Venn stated that the regulator worked with Facebook and the police to locate the individuals and stop the activity from taking place.

Venn added that illegal lotteries would be a focus of the UKGC this year when it comes to enforcement work. The goal is to work with social media platforms to pinpoint the activity and those behind it. The recent Facebook lottery shutdown may be the first of many enforcement actions by the Commission in 2022.

the winners of the illegal lotteries are often the people running them

South West Regional Organized Crime Unit GAIN Coordinator David Gill pointed out that the winners of the illegal lotteries are often the people running them. These individuals continue to be persistent in operating such contests.

“We will continue to support the Gambling Commission in targeting and disrupting people profiting from such illegal schemes,” Gill said.

Unregulated lotteries affect the vulnerable people of the community, including those who have a gambling addiction. Such contests also neglect to provide funding to good causes. Plus, consumers taking part do not have legal protection as they would with licensed gaming options.

Similar fight in the Netherlands

The Facebook lottery shutdown in the UK is not the only time the social media site has been a platform for illegal gambling activities. Last year, Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) announced it was taking on Facebook and both illegal lottery and bingo operations.

In July 2021, KSA got Facebook to shut down an account that advertised illegal lottery gaming. The social media site deleted the entire account instead of focusing solely on the individual social media pages managed by the account.

KSA located several Facebook pages that offered illegal lottery gaming in the Netherlands. The person’s name behind the account changed continually. Because of this, the regulator asked the social media site to remove the account in full, a request to which Facebook agreed. KSA feels that illegal lotteries are a hazard because the contests do not adhere to regulations. It is also unclear if the games even exist or if the pages were just a front for taking people’s money.

In November 2021, the KSA announced the removal of a group called Dordtse Queens on Facebook for offering illegal online bingo games. The eight different admins used their personal Facebook pages to advertise the games, allowing other users to participate.

In total, Facebook removed six pages associated with the Dordtse Queens group. The gaming authority called the process a “spider web of illegal bingos.” KSA also pointed out that underage players had access to the games.

Posted in: Crime World News
Tags: Facebook Gambling Commission illegal Facebook lottery UKGC

Top News Stories

Las Vegas Gamblers Win $225,000 Through Craps Cheating Scheme

By Andrew O’Malley

- May 26, 2023

Cyprus Ex-President, Soccer Body Under Fire as UEFA Confirms Match Fixing

By Mark Pearson

- May 28, 2023

Police Searching for Gunman Following Triple Shooting at a Seattle Casino

By Andrew O’Malley

- May 29, 2023

More from
VegasSlotsOnline

HomeReal Money SlotsFree SlotsCasino BonusesLive CasinosMobile SlotsBest Online CasinosCasino ReviewsNew CasinosGambling SitesNo Deposit BonusesFree SpinsSlot By MakerVideo Poker

Other Related News

Elderly woman behind bars

82-Year-Old Woman Arrested After Discovery of Illegal Gambling Machines During Drug Bust

By Andrew O’Malley - May 31, 2023May 31, 2023
Police

Wounded Las Vegas Robber Has Cancer and No Longer Wishes to Live, According to Mother

By Andrew O’Malley - May 31, 2023May 31, 2023
Soccer ball with handcuffs

Brazilian Soccer Player Gets Lifetime Ban for Involvement in Match-Fixing Scandal

By Andrew O’Malley - May 30, 2023May 30, 2023
Gamcare Gambleaware Ecogra
DMCA.com Protection Status
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Responsible Gambling
  • Fairness and Testing
  • Licensing Bodies and Regulators
  • Sitemap

2013-2023 VegasSlotsOnline.com

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.
By clicking any link on this page, you are giving consent to our use of cookies.

Cookie Overview

VegasSlotsOnline uses cookies to enhance your experience as you navigate through the website. Some of these cookies are categorized as essential because they are essential for the working of the basic functionalities of the website. Essential cookies are stored on your browser. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These are non-essential cookies and are stored on your browser only with your consent. You have the option to opt-out of non-essential cookies, but this may affect your browsing experience.

Necessary  (Always Enabled)

Essential cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensure the basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-Essential ( Enabled Disabled )

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and are used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-essential cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.