Illegal Lotteries and Betting Operators

State-licensed lotteries around the world are continually challenged by the countless for-profit gaming operators that are not authorized by regulators to offer gaming products in their respective jurisdictions. As the territorial integrity of its members is a top priority, the WLA is dedicated to combatting illegal lottery operations around the globe. The WLA advises member lotteries on how they can best fight unauthorized lotteries within the regulatory framework of their respective jurisdictions through the work of its Illegal Lotteries and Betting Committee.

State-licensed lotteries around the world are continually challenged by the countless for-profit gaming operators that are not authorized by regulators to offer gaming products in their respective jurisdictions. As the territorial integrity of its members is a top priority, the WLA is dedicated to combatting illegal lottery operations around the globe. Through the work of its Illegal Lotteries and Betting Committee (ILBC), the WLA advises member lotteries on how they can best fight unauthorized lotteries within the regulatory framework of their respective jurisdictions.

Established in 2019, the ILBC reviews the tools and resources available to help member lotteries combat illegal gaming in their jurisdictions. In 2020, the ILBC launched a database of known illegal lottery and betting operations, with a particular focus on bet-on-lottery schemes and courier services, and produced a set of detailed fact sheets for over 30 countries, which can be found in the member section of this website.

Members can log in and download the PDF here:

Over the past few years, online betting has expanded rapidly owing largely to advances in technology, the increased use of smart devices, and better connectivity. Additionally, the global pandemic has accelerated the digitalization of many industries, including the lottery and sports betting sector.

The acceptance of cryptocurrency payments by many illegal sports betting operators makes it easier for them to proliferate and harder for government authorities to trace and curb their illicit activities.

One of the main goals of the WLA is to advance the interest of its members. As such, the WLA works to protect the gaming sector from corruption and criminal activity and maintain the integrity of state-authorized lotteries and sports betting operations worldwide.

Against this backdrop, the WLA Illegal Lotteries and Betting Committee (ILBC) has produced an informative brochure, titled Combatting illegal betting to protect the integrity of sports. The brochure looks at the trends and technologies that have contributed to the global expansion of illegal betting operators, and the impact that such operators have on the legal lottery and sports betting sector. It also examines the WLA’s global effort to protect sports integrity through collaboration with organizations, such as United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports (ULIS), and other stakeholders such as the Council of Europe, Interpol, and numerous national and international sports federations.

This document underscores the urgent need for international cooperation in tackling illegal betting and corruption in sports and explores the types of measures that all stakeholders should take in addressing the many facets of the illegal betting and how it affects those who suffer from gambling addiction.

Download the Illegal betting brochure