The digitalisation and expansion of online gaming and betting platforms have significantly transformed the gambling sector, creating new opportunities for economic activity. However, these developments have also brought increased challenges in preventing and combating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.

In its 2026 report “Risks of Gaming and Gambling”, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) examines the risks associated with the misuse of the gaming and gambling sector for illicit purposes, taking into account technological developments, the expansion of online services and the increasingly cross-border nature of these activities.

The report highlights several factors that increase the sector’s exposure to these risks, including the use of unlicensed platforms, cross-border transactions, third-party accounts, as well as the exploitation of e-wallets and virtual assets. These factors may be used to conceal the origin of funds, complicate transaction tracing and obscure the actual beneficiaries of illicit activities.

In this context, FATF emphasises the importance of adopting a risk-based approach, strengthening licensing and supervisory mechanisms, and improving the processes for identifying and reporting suspicious transactions. Particular importance is also attached to cooperation between competent authorities and the private sector, as well as the timely exchange of information at both national and international levels.

In the face of ongoing technological developments and increasingly complex forms of sectoral misuse, the timely identification and assessment of risks remain essential to strengthening preventive measures and safeguarding the integrity of the financial system.