The 2026 Gambling Regulators European Forum (GREF) has taken place in Sofia, Bulgaria, where regulators and industry experts across Europe met to discuss the state of gambling regulation and the European sector.
UKGC reflects on GREF 2026
In a statement reflecting on the conference, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) said that “the programme highlighted the importance of collaboration across areas such as anti-money laundering, enforcement, illegal online markets, and player protection”.
The UKGC continued that events such as GREF “are vital in ensuring we stay aligned with international counterparts and continue to protect consumers effectively”. The UKGC added that such alignment is central to its work, “particularly as we continue to strengthen our evidence base and address risks posed by illegal gambling”.
GGL recalls discussions during the conference
Germany’s central gambling authority, the GGL, stated that it attended the conference and participated in discussions with other European gambling authorities, particularly regarding key developments in gambling regulation across the region.
The GGL said that the focus during the conference was on combating illegal offers, protecting players, and further developing data-based supervision in the digital market.
It said that the conference is considered an important forum for European cooperation among gambling regulators and brings together regulators from numerous European countries to discuss market developments, regulatory challenges, and solutions.
Going over some of the discussions that took place, the GGL noted that an important point concerned the regulation of digital gambling markets under the European Digital Services Act.
It said that discussions in this context revolved around how platforms involved in online gambling can be held more accountable, and added that it contributed by drawing from its experience in national supervision.
Another focal point of the conference, it said, was with regard to combating illegal gambling in the European network.
It said that participants at the conference exchanged views on digital control and monitoring approaches, as well as on possibilities for closer operational cooperation between national authorities. In terms of cooperation, the GGL said that the focus was particularly on faster exchanging of information and the further development of cross-border enforcement mechanisms against illegal providers.
Technological developments and new business models in online gambling were also key topics of discussion, the GGL said. Elements which were touched on included platforms, new payment models, and data-driven market structures. The GGL continued that, in a working group, various regulatory approaches were compared based on processed data on how they can effectively combat illegal gambling.
It said that it became clear that reliable data and their systematic evaluation are a central basis for effective regulation, despite different regulatory frameworks across European countries. It added that it considers data-based insights to be an essential starting point for effective oversight and player protection.
The GGL concluded by emphasising the importance of cross-border cooperation in the effective regulation of the gambling market, as it added that the GREF conference is an important platform for the continuous exchange between European regulatory authorities.
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