The UK Gambling Commission is reporting an 87 percent decline in gambling advertisements on illegal websites thanks to a joint operation with the City of London Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit.
The operation began a year ago to protect media owners against copyright infringement. The partnership resulted in the launch of PIPCU’s Operation Creative which seeks to stop licensed gambling operators ‘inadvertently providing revenue to those committing crime online’.
Gambling advertising on illegal websites is prohibited under commission licensing.
Acting Detective Superintendent Peter Ratcliffe, Head of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), commented on the operation: “The success of a strong relationship built between PIPCU and The Gambling Commission can be seen by these figures,” said Acting Detective Superintendent Peter Ratcliffe, Head of the unit in a press release. “This is a fantastic example of a joint working initiative between police and an industry regulator.
