The Gambling Commission posted a new senior Head of Illegal Markets role, with a 65,000 salary, as research surfaced by the Betting and Gaming Council confirmed the UK black market has grown to 16.6 billion in 2025, more than tripling from 2019. The hire arrives during a CEO transition period at the regulator and amid escalating industry pressure over enforcement resourcing.
All of this is taking its toll on advertising. Last week, the Interactive Advertising Bureau revised its outlook on advertising spending for 2025, rolling the projected spend back 1.6 percentage points. Companies are now expected to spend just 5.7% more this year on advertising, down from the initial projection of 7.3% more. The main reason behind the revision is tariff concerns. More than nine in 10 media buyers have been concerned over the new import taxes and their impact on the industry, and many have been working to adjust strategies.
I was mid-meltdown one Christmas, with toys to buy, impossible relatives to search for, cards to send, turkeys to secure, families to see (you know the drill), when my friend leant an understanding ear. She took a pause and said, 'Christmas can be any day you know, it doesn't have to be the 25 th.' And for the first time in my adult life, the bauble dropped.
Crime Junkie continued its reign at the top, holding the #1 spot in audio reach with 8.1 million listeners, despite a minor dip of 2% - a sign of enduring popularity and listener loyalty.
