European regulators and Google build legal betting operator list

European gambling regulators and Google are creating a white list to block illegal betting sites.

Written by the BettingEdgeHub desk, 15 October 2026

European gambling regulators are teaming up with Google to clean up the online betting market. Michel Groothuizen from the Dutch gambling authority confirmed that a special task force is creating a verified list of licensed operators. Any platform missing from this official list will face severe visibility restrictions and be treated as an unlawful operation.

Cracking down on offshore sites

Traditional fines often fail because rogue operators simply ignore payment collections. Authorities now focus on cutting off visibility and blocking financial transactions entirely. By squeezing the illegal supply chain, regulators aim to make unlicensed betting sites almost impossible to find.

What big tech will do

Google and Meta are working alongside the task force to enforce these strict digital bans. Unverified operators will lose access to advertising and search visibility. The wagering requirement was not stated in the update regarding this enforcement action.

Ongoing efforts after legalisation

Fighting unregulated platforms remains a top priority even years after local markets introduced legal betting. Regulators believe that starving black market sites of traffic and payment processing is the most effective enforcement strategy available right now.

What it means for a bet

Always check that your bookmaker is fully licensed so you do not get caught when authorities block unlicensed sites.

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