IAGR Announces First Illegal Gambling Awareness Week

The International Association of Gaming Regulators, IAGR, has announced that it will hold the first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week (IGAW) from 9 to 13 November 2026. The association said this initiative is the first internationally coordinated effort to draw attention to the risks of unlicensed online gambling. The announcement was made at a briefing during the annual conference in Lima.

The campaign's core message is clear: before placing a bet, check whether the site is licensed in your location. IAGR President Ben Haden said that the spread of online gambling is a shared challenge for regulators. The campaign stresses that users of unlicensed sites may not be able to collect their winnings, may have limited options for resolving disputes, and may see their personal or financial information misused.

The campaign materials were prepared by R&R Partners, an independent communications agency. The materials will be distributed to member countries on 6 November. The package includes 30 and 15 second videos, social media content, a draft press release and talking points. In addition, the free CheckBeforeYouPlay.org tool will go live on 9 November, allowing users to check the licence status of a betting site by entering its address.

IAGR Chief Executive Kevin Mullally said that a professional-looking site or a well-known name should not be enough on its own to inspire trust. Mullally said the association wants users to routinely check a site's licence status before opening an account or depositing money.