The Swiss Federal Gaming Board has held its fourth forum on combating illegal gambling. A total of 81 representatives from 22 cantons across three linguistic regions attended.
The regulator actively combats illegal gambling in partnership with various bodies. Effective fulfilment of this legal mandate requires cooperation with authorities and specialised services. As a result, the Board regularly organises workshops on this subject.
These usually include representatives from police forces, public prosecutors' offices and other relevant cantonal authorities.
Held under the theme “Practice – Cooperation – Innovation” this year, the event brought together participants to exchange experiences, share best practices and discuss common challenges.
Sessions led by the Board and guest speakers explored a range of issues, including the use of artificial intelligence in criminal prosecutions, social media advertising for illegal gambling, sports betting and the confiscation of assets linked to illegal gambling.
This initiative helps share knowledge and strengthen collaboration at the national level.
Meanwhile, Swiss regulators also recognise that fighting this complex issue cannot be done in isolation by one country's authorities, as sophisticated cross-border networks often run illegal gambling.
Last month, Swiss regulators joined counterparts from Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein to sign an agreement aimed at strengthening cross-border cooperation against illegal online gambling, following a meeting in Bern.
The annual DACHL meeting focused on the increasingly international structure of illegal gambling markets and the need for regulators to exchange information on operators, supporting businesses and emerging business models.
Germany’s Gambling Authority (GGL) said illegal gambling is increasingly organised through interconnected ecosystems rather than individual operators.
Swiss turnover from lotteries and sports betting fell 2.4% year-on-year to CHF 3.87bn ($4.84bn) in 2025, while GGR declined 3.7% to CHF 1.2bn
