IAGR launches first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week for November 2026
Coordinated global campaign runs 9–13 November with a licensing verification tool
Key Takeaways
- IAGR announced its first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week at the annual conference in Lima, Peru.
- Member jurisdictions are asked to run coordinated consumer activity between 9 and 13 November 2026, with assets available from 6 November 2026.
- CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, developed by Sharp Vision, launches publicly on 9 November 2026 to let users verify site licensing across participating jurisdictions.
- R&R Partners produced the campaign materials and Fabio Macorin was appointed to the IAGR board of trustees.
The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) will run its first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week (IGAW) across November 2026. The initiative was announced during the IAGR annual conference in Lima, Peru, and member jurisdictions are invited to stage synchronised consumer protection activity during 9–13 November 2026.
Campaign purpose and schedule
IAGR designed the week-long campaign to heighten consumer awareness of the risks posed by unlicensed online gambling operators. The association unveiled the initiative at a leadership briefing held during its conference in Lima, Peru. Member jurisdictions are asked to use coordinated messaging and run local activity between 9 and 13 November 2026; campaign creative assets will be available from 6 November 2026.
Core advisory and risks highlighted
The campaign’s central advisory asks players to verify that a gambling platform holds a valid local licence before opening an account or depositing funds. IAGR lists specific consumer harms tied to unlicensed platforms: unpaid winnings, limited dispute-resolution options, misuse of personal and financial data, and the possibility that unverified betting traffic funds organised crime, including money laundering, human trafficking and terrorist financing.
"The reach of online gambling makes this a shared challenge for regulators. By coordinating our consumer communications, we can help more people understand why local licensing matters and where to find reliable information before they engage with an operator," said IAGR President Ben Haden.
Tools and delivery
A cornerstone of the campaign is CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, a complimentary licensing information tool provided by Paris-based regulatory technology firm Sharp Vision. The platform launches publicly on 9 November 2026 and allows consumers to enter a gambling site URL and retrieve official licensing data across participating IAGR member jurisdictions.
IAGR CEO Kevin Mullally described the consumer behaviour the tool targets:
"People often mistake visibility for trust. A professional-looking website or a recognizable name can give consumers confidence without knowing whether the site is properly licensed in that location. We want consumers to routinely check the licensing status of a site before opening an account or making a deposit."
To support local rollout, independent marketing agency R&R Partners produced comprehensive campaign materials that jurisdictions may adapt with local branding; those assets become available on 6 November 2026. IAGR specifically encourages members to issue press releases and coordinate media interviews during the active window from 9 to 13 November.
Governance update
IAGR also confirmed a recent governance appointment: Fabio Macorin, Deputy Secretary of Brazil’s Ministry of Finance Secretariat of Prizes and Bets, has joined the IAGR board of trustees.
For regulators and communications teams seeking background or creative assets, IAGR has centralised materials and the verification tool as the operational pillars of the week-long push.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dates for Illegal Gambling Awareness Week?
Illegal Gambling Awareness Week will run from 9 to 13 November 2026. Campaign creative assets will be available to member jurisdictions from 6 November 2026.
What tool will consumers use to check a site's licence during the campaign?
Consumers can use CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, a licensing information tool provided by Sharp Vision that launches publicly on 9 November 2026 and returns official licensing data across participating IAGR member jurisdictions.
Who produced the campaign materials for IGAW?
Independent marketing agency R&R Partners developed the comprehensive campaign materials that IAGR is distributing; members are encouraged to adapt these assets with local agency branding.
Where and when was Illegal Gambling Awareness Week announced?
IAGR unveiled the campaign during its annual conference in Lima, Peru, at a leadership briefing held in October 2026 ahead of the November launch.
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About the author
Eleanor Whitfield
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Eleanor Whitfield tracks gambling legislation, licensing decisions, and regulator enforcement across key markets — from the UKGC, MGA, and Germany's GGL to Spain's DGOJ and the state-by-state map in the Americas. The reporting answers three questions precisely: what changed, where, and who it affects, with jurisdictions, effective dates, and penalty figures named exactly as published. Compliance officers and operators read Eleanor Whitfield to know which rulebook moved before their next board meeting.
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