Collaborative Workshop on Illegal Gambling: Defining and Estimating the Market

Introduction

A workshop organized by the World Association of Gaming and Betting Operators (WLA) in collaboration with the University of Lausanne was held on 14 February in Lausanne. The workshop focused on the definition and estimation of the illegal gambling market.

Importance of Collaboration

The participants of the workshop unanimously agreed on the significance of joining forces and pooling different skills and resources to tackle the issue of illegal betting. They emphasized the need to develop a common methodology to accurately measure the size of the illegal betting market.

Standardized Definition

Another key outcome of the workshop was the recognition of the importance of establishing a standardized definition of legal and illegal betting. This will help in creating a clear understanding of the boundaries between legal and illegal activities in the gambling industry.

Next Steps

The University of Lausanne will prepare a comprehensive report based on the discussions and feedback from the participants. The report will be shared with the participants for further input within the next month. Based on the report, the next steps to address the issue of illegal gambling will be determined.

Acknowledgements

The WLA extends its gratitude to the University of Lausanne for their collaboration in organizing the workshop. The WLA also appreciates the participation of all the attendees, including Luca Esposito Poleo, Executive Director of WLA, Stefano Caneppele, Professor of Criminology at the University of Lausanne, Eugenio Curia of the United Nations Office, and Claudius Marinelli, Operations Coordinator of INTERPOL's Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Center.