EU regulators and Google collaborate to combat illegal gambling

European regulators and major technology companies, including Google and Meta, are collaborating to combat illegal gambling through the creation of a verified licensing list. Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of the Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), confirmed that a task force established in early 2026 is working to identify companies authorized to offer gaming services.

Under this initiative, operators not included on the official list will be treated as criminals, and Google will ban all services provided by these unauthorized entities. The move aims to make illegal supply harder to access by reducing the visibility of unlicensed websites and preventing related payments.

While the KSA currently favors cooperation and coordinated action to achieve faster results, Groothuizen noted that legal action against digital platforms remains an option. The regulator suggests that technology companies play a significant role in promoting unauthorized gambling through search and social media advertising, and judicial intervention may be necessary if voluntary restrictions on illegal advertisements prove insufficient.