The Gambling Commission (GC) in the UK has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands' gambling regulator.
This agreement focuses on reinforcing cooperation on tackling illegal gambling and improving regulatory alignment between both countries.
The announcement followed the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) conference in Canada, where GC executives met with counterparts from across the world.
According to the Commission, the agreement with the Dutch regulator is the first time it has signed a follow-up MoU with another jurisdiction, highlighting a maturing international strategy.
The GC stated that the arrangement aims to "work much closer on tackling the illegal gambling market, on sharing vital regulatory information and shadowing one another as we progress towards protecting our consumers in an ever-expanding global industry."
The cooperation is expected to facilitate deeper intelligence exchange on unlicensed operators, enforcement practices and the use of emerging technologies in monitoring betting behaviour.
It also signals a regulatory trend towards cross-border information-sharing to address increasingly decentralised and technology-driven gambling ecosystems.
This follows recent discussions within the GC on emerging risks such as generative AI deepfake and decentralised betting platforms, threats that could complicate identity verification and player protection efforts.
The MoU could be of help in complications like these as it builds on an existing partnership between the two regulators with both agencies citing shared priorities around consumer protection, integrity and responsible innovation.
GC officials expressed gratitude to Michel Groothuizen, Chair of the KSA, for "continued support in Europe and a mutually beneficial ongoing partnership."
Earlier this year, the Gambling Commission fined Unibet operator Kindred Group £10m ($13m) for anti-money laundering and social responsibility failings
