Bet365 Cuts Jobs, Gambling Commission Gets New Chair, Illegal Gambling Surges

Bet365, one of the world's leading online gambling companies, has announced that it will be shedding 340 jobs. The majority of these job cuts will come from Stoke-on-Trent, the company’s headquarters city, where it employs 5,500 people. The company cited the increasingly difficult operational climate, including regulatory pressure and mounting tax costs.

The UK Gambling Commission, the United Kingdom’s gambling regulator, will soon have a new Chair. On Monday this week, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) confirmed that Ruth Evans, a prominent UK regulatory figure and consumer champion, will assume the role of Chair of the Gambling Commission.

A new report by Euromat has estimated that 25% of the total online gambling market in 2025 in Europe is driven through illegal gambling operators. The Betting and Gaming Council has cited a new report in which it claims that illegal gambling globally has reached $50bn.