IAGR launches free tool to check licensed gambling sites
The launch will coincide with IAGR’s first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week.
The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) will hold its first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week from November 9 to 13 2026, bringing together regulators to raise awareness of the risks associated with unlicensed online gambling. Announced during a briefing at IAGR’s Annual Conference in Lima, the initiative will coordinate consumer communications across member jurisdictions.
The aim is to encourage players to verify whether a gambling website is licensed in the jurisdiction where a player intends to play. R&R Partners, an independent marketing and communications agency, has developed the initiative’s creative concept and materials. A package will be available to IAGR members on November 6 with 30-second and 15-second videos, social media content, a draft press release and talking points in English and Spanish.
Participating regulators will be able to adapt the materials with their own branding, publish content throughout the campaign week, issue local announcements and arrange media interviews. Consumer protection bodies and responsible gambling organisations are also being encouraged to take part.
“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.
Licensing checker
The campaign includes the launch of CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, a free online tool from Sharp Vision, a Paris-based regulatory technology company that helps gambling regulators monitor markets and identify unlicensed operators. Launching on November 9, the tool will allow users to enter a gambling website’s URL and check available licensing information across participating IAGR member jurisdictions. It will draw on regulatory records and other verified public sources.
“People often mistake visibility for trust,” said IAGR CEO Kevin Mullally, warning that a professional-looking website or familiar brand does not necessarily mean an operator is properly licensed in a particular location.
