IAGR to Launch Illegal Gambling Awareness Week in November
The international initiative will debut a new licensing verification tool to combat the risks of unlicensed online gambling.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Gambling
Live Poll
Do you routinely check the official licensing of an online gambling site before making a deposit?
The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) will hold its first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week this November. The campaign includes the November 9 launch of CheckBeforeYouPlay.org to help consumers verify if a gambling site is properly licensed.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to mitigate risks such as unpaid winnings, the misuse of personal information, and the funding of illicit activities like human trafficking. By standardizing licensing awareness, regulators seek to address the challenges posed by the broad reach of online gambling.
The campaign runs from November 9 to November 13, 2026, featuring the CheckBeforeYouPlay.org tool developed by Sharp Vision. The tool allows users to enter a URL to check the licensing status of gambling websites.
The players
International Association of Gaming Regulators
This global organization facilitates the exchange of information among gaming regulatory agencies to promote integrity and efficiency.
CheckBeforeYouPlay.org
This new digital resource is designed to allow users to verify the licensing status of gambling websites.
Sharp Vision
This company based in Paris, France, contributed the technical development of the new gambling licensing verification tool.
Fabio Macorin
He joined the board of trustees for the International Association of Gaming Regulators last month.
The details
Developed by the independent agency R&R Partners, the campaign provides members with materials to distribute across their channels. Consumers are warned that unlicensed sites may fund criminal enterprises like drug trafficking in addition to failing to pay out user winnings.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: Campaign materials become available to IAGR members.
November 9, 2026: The CheckBeforeYouPlay.org tool officially launches.
November 9-13, 2026: IAGR members will post campaign content daily.
Culture Shift
This awareness week signals a move toward greater transparency in the digital economy by placing verification power directly in the hands of consumers. It follows the precedent of the International Association of Gaming Regulators' licensing standards to combat the rise of illicit online operators.
Users can utilize the new website to check the legitimacy of a gambling platform before entering personal or financial information. Adopting this verification step can help protect against data misuse and ensure potential winnings are legally protected.
The takeaway
Consumers should consistently verify licensing credentials before engaging with online gaming platforms to avoid significant financial and privacy risks. Utilizing centralized verification tools serves as a primary defense against the growing prevalence of unlicensed, illicit gambling sites.
Further reading
For more information on industry standards, visit the Gambling section.
More information
To verify a site, visit the gambling site licensing information tool.
Live Poll
Do you routinely check the official licensing of an online gambling site before making a deposit?
