The UK Gambling Commission said today that a multi-agency inquiry successfully shut down illegal lotteries operating on the social media platform Facebook.

Findings of the Probe

The regulator conducted the investigation in collaboration with UK law enforcement partners via the Government Agency Intelligence Network and social media platform specialists.

Two persons were discovered and removed from connected Facebook groups for promoting illicit lotteries that offered a variety of cash rewards, children’s toys, and apparel. This was done in response to the North East Regional Special Operations and South West Regional Organized Crime Units issuing cease and desist letters.

Quotes from the Press Release

According to the Commission, its investigation concentrated on the operation of illegal and unlicensed lotteries “because of the risks to consumers and vulnerable individuals.

“Our company knows that the true winners in illicit lotteries, which sometimes promise large cash prizes and cash draws, are far too frequently the operators – and they are tenacious in their efforts to continue operating,” said David Gill, GAIN coordinator at the South West Regional Organized Crime Unit.

“We will continue to assist the Gambling Commission in identifying and disrupting those involved in such illicit activities. This type of work demonstrates the value and absolute necessity of a diverse variety of enforcement agencies cooperating as part of the GAIN network.”

Helen Venn, executive director of the UKGC, emphasized that these lotteries generate no revenue for charitable organizations and that participants lack legal protection. Hundreds of people participated in these lotteries, but it was critical to identify those who unlawfully organized and moderated them,” she stated.

“UKGC are delighted that key individuals have been identified and that this type of behavior, which only raises the risk of gambling harm, has been blocked in collaboration with our colleagues at Facebook and the police.

“Illegal lotteries, including those conducted via social media platforms, will remain a focus of our enforcement efforts this year as we work closely with platforms like Facebook to identify not only the activity but also those responsible for it and those who violate gambling laws and social media standards.”