In just a few years, what once took place within the walls of a physical casino or betting agency has moved to the screens of millions of devices. Today, it's possible to gamble from a mobile phone, in real time, and with increasingly sophisticated offers.

This growth—driven by digitalization and market liberalization—boosts economies, creates jobs, and increases tax revenue. But it also opens up a series of dilemmas that cannot be ignored.

The problem is not gambling itself, which is part of the culture and tradition in many countries, but rather the consequences of accelerated and sometimes poorly regulated development. Gambling addiction, the exposure of young people and vulnerable people, money laundering, and misleading advertising are some of the less visible aspects of a sector that, while contributing, can also undermine trust in institutions.

The World Health Organization took an important step in 2018 by recognizing gambling disorder as a mental health condition. With this, the phenomenon ceased to be viewed solely from a revenue perspective and became a public health issue. This forces states to design policies that not only regulate taxes and licenses, but also protect people, prevent risks, and offer treatment tools to those who need them.

The current regulatory landscape shows progress, but also limitations. Legal frameworks and oversight bodies exist, although in many cases a fiscal rationale predominates over a preventive one. Added to this is the speed of digital innovation, which highlights the lack of adequate oversight tools. Institutional fragmentation and limited civil society participation complete the diagnosis of a system that still has much to consolidate.

From this emerge two essential pillars: responsible gaming and institutional integrity. The first aims to regulate advertising, promote self-exclusion programs, establish time and amount limits, and, above all, raise social awareness so that entertainment does not lead to addiction. The second requires transparency in licensing, effective controls against money laundering, and accountability mechanisms that reinforce the legitimacy of regulatory bodies.

International experience demonstrates that progress is possible in this direction. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain, Canada, and Australia have opted for models based on evidence and cross-sector cooperation, with monitoring systems that balance economic development and social responsibility.

We can analyze what is happening in the United Kingdom, as it is at a key moment in its gambling regulation with the publication of the 2023 White Paper on Gambling, entitled High Stakes: Gambling Reform for the Digital Age. The document arises in response to the gap between the 2005 Gambling Act and the reality of the market, dominated by digital platforms, online sports betting, and new forms of interaction that require more sophisticated controls.

The focus of the regulatory debate has shifted toward public health, with a growing emphasis on the social implications of gambling and the need to mitigate harm. The main proposals include limits on online gambling, the redesign of digital products to avoid addictive patterns, and the implementation of technological tools to identify risky behaviors. The role of the regulator, the Gambling Commission, is also strengthened, with greater oversight, investigation, and sanctioning capabilities.

The treatment of advertising and sponsorship is another highlight. It analyzes the exposure of minors and young people to gambling advertising, especially during sporting events. Although it does not propose a total ban, it opens the door to stricter regulations and new responsibilities for sponsors.

Several British academics have contributed their perspectives on these reforms. Kate Bedford (University of Birmingham) emphasizes that the measures reflect a growing concern for public health and gambling as a social problem, although she warns of potential implications for players' privacy (Bedford, 2024).

For her part, Henrietta Bowden-Jones, director of the National Problem Gambling Clinic, emphasizes the importance of basing policies on scientific evidence and clinical experience to ensure their effectiveness in harm reduction.

Finally, Mark Griffiths (Nottingham Trent University) points out the need to balance player protection with the economic viability of the industry, preventing excessive restrictions from driving illegal or unregulated markets. Despite progress, challenges remain. These include finding a balance between regulation and economic freedom, developing education and public awareness programs on the risks of gambling, and fostering international collaboration to establish global standards in online gambling regulation.

Ultimately, the United Kingdom represents a regulatory model that seeks to reframe the paradigm toward player protection, integrating technological tools, preventive measures, and scientific evidence, thus offering a valuable reference for gambling regulation in the digital age.


*Federico Rodríguez Aguiar is a marketing analyst with more than 35 years of experience in the gaming industry in Latin America and the Caribbean. He has held high-level positions as a regulator and has served on juries at international industry events. He currently works as an independent columnist, analyzing trends and regulations.