A new wave of offshore gambling regulators has emerged across small island nations and territories as operators seek alternatives to tightened oversight in established jurisdictions, according to new academic research.
The study, mapping offshore gambling regulatory frameworks globally, found that more than 20 jurisdictions now offer online gaming licenses, with several new regimes appearing in response to regulatory reforms in Curaçao, the Philippines and the Isle of Man.
The proliferation of these “pseudo regulators” has created significant risks for player protection and sports integrity, while enabling money laundering and match-fixing activities, researchers warned.
Many of the new jurisdictions operate with minimal oversight and offer licenses at substantially lower costs and faster processing times than established regulatory frameworks.
