How countries are fighting illegal operators and domains

Over the past two years, European regulators have moved from "soft" warnings to systemic operations against illegal brands: massive blocking of sites through the courts, attacks on payment channels, cleaning up advertising networks and affiliates, deindexing in search and removing applications from stores. Illegal traffic has become more expensive to extract, and masquerade with clone domains is less effective. Great Britain, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, France, Germany and Norway demonstrate that there are more "buttons" - and press them more often.

Basic tools of struggle

1) Site blocking: DNS/IP and "dynamic" litigation

Ship blockages and orders to telecom operators. Denmark regularly goes to court and adds domains to block lists in batches: in 2024-2025 alone, a record 162-178 sites (including skin/mirror domains) were blocked.

Automation and blacklisting. Italy (ADM) maintains a growing registry: the number of blocked domains has exceeded 11 thousand; in the fall of 2025, software was launched for automatic "shooting" of new mirrors.

Norway has received direct authority over the DNS block since 2025; first wave - ~ 57 sites/23 companies.

2) Payment bans and "blocking taps"

Blocking transactions and settlement gateways is the key to zeroing the monetization of "gray" sites. In Germany, the courts confirmed the legality of orders for payment blocks in individual cases, and the GGL regulator actively applies bans.

Finmonitoring and pressure on acquirers/issuers in the wake of investigative journalism (UK example).

3) A blow to advertising, affiliates and media outlets

The Netherlands (KSA) fines and prescribes affiliates and media for promoting illegal casinos; threaten a complete ban on advertising for violators.

Germany (GGL) has stepped up the prosecution of illegal advertising and affiliate grids (prescriptions, fines, format bans).

Spain (DGOJ) and France (ANJ) simultaneously fine and close illegal immigrants, increasing "preventive" tools (new warnings, budget control).

4) Deindexing, removing applications and "platform" measures

UKGC officially prescribes work "through platforms": calls to search engines, social networks and hosting for taking content and applications, requests for information about owners.

KSA is seeking authority to remove illegal apps from stores and block ads on platforms.

5) Domain disputes and brand divestments

Operators and copyright holders are increasingly going to UDRP/WIPO for domain disputes when a misleading name/logo is used. Solutions often describe geoblock and bypass practices.

Case map of Europe (short)

Country	What they do	Public markers
Italy (ADM)	Mass blocks, auto-software against mirrors, "cleaning" before a new license	11k + domains in the block list, new automatic means (2025)
UK (UKGC)	Tactics "through platforms": removal of content/applications, referrals, joint operations	Updated report October 21-23, 2025 on the "disruption" of the illegal market
Denmark (Spillemyndigheden)	Ship blockages in batches, regular rounds	162-178 sites for block wave 2024-2025, the list is published openly
Netherlands (KSA)	Fines to affiliates/media, prohibition of "netarget" advertising, preparation of empowerment	Prescriptions to Affiliates (Summer 2025), Application/Payment Block Initiatives
Spain (DGOJ)	Closure/fines, new wave of sanctions	Closed/sanctioned 14-15 operators, fines tens of millions of euros (2024-2025)
Belgium (Kansspelcommissie)	Constantly updated "black" list, sanctions	Public register of illegal sites; fresh blocks in autumn-2025
France (ANJ)	New "power" department, URL blocks, "freezing" of financial flows	1,300 + URLs blocked in 2024; special division created (2025)
Germany (GGL)	Prescriptions/fines for advertising, prohibitions on payments; IP blocks - under ship control	Hundreds of sites are inaccessible due to prohibitions/geoblock; courts have limited IP blocks
Norway (Lotteritilsynet)	DNS blocks (from 2025), payment monitoring, advertising ban	57 sites in the first wave; DNS block permissions took effect on 01. 01. 2025

Why it works (and where are the weaknesses)

Strengths of the approach

Locks + payment bans simultaneously "hit" accessibility and monetization.

Pressure on affiliates/media reduces the influx of "cheap" traffic.

Working through platforms (search engines, servers, hosting) speeds up the sweep.

Weaknesses

Mirror domains quickly emerge; without automation (Italy) it is difficult to catch them manually.

Strict advertising/product bans can push some players to "gray" sites - regulators have to balance (discussed in NL/SE).

Practical checklist for operators (how to survive according to white rules)

1. Domain assets and reaction rate.

Keep a watch list of mirrors, monitor phishing and look-alike domains; automate complaints to the staff/search/hosting.

Keep proof of brand rights (in case of UDRP/counterclaim).

2. Payment "hygiene."

Confirm the white route of money (KYC PSP, bank letters, AML procedures); segregation of client funds - must.

Set up "banking" for risky patterns (geo/amounts) so as not to fall under block orders.

3. Advertising and affiliates.

Contractual bans on netarget, youth creatives, "left" geo; right to disconnect for 1 violation.

Log classrooms/screenshots of offices; in NL/DE/UK - increased control of affiliates.

4. Jurisdictional block map.

Denmark/Italy/Norway - prepare mirror protection and fast domain switch for false positive blocks; document the legality of the offers.

5. Working with platforms.

Letter and evidence templates for Google/Meta/Apple/hosters; Internal Phishing Removal SLA ≤24 h.

In UK - understanding the UKGC roadmap for "disruption" (content taking, referrals, data requests).

A look at the countries: what is considered a "red zone"

Italy: automatic mirror blocks + license tightening - do not count on survivability domains.

Denmark: regular judicial waves of blockages (the list is public, quickly updated).

Netherlands: media/affiliates at gunpoint; extended powers for orders/payments are being prepared.

Spain: closure of illegal immigrants and large fines - risk management of creatives and domains is mandatory.

France: ANJ is building a "power" block, massively blocking URLs and blocking financial flows.

Germany: advertising and payments are the main pressure point; IP blocks run into the courts, but there are enough bans.

Norway: DNS blocks and advertising bans - the first black wave has already passed.

The arsenal against illegal operators has expanded markedly: ship locks, payment bans, "hunting" for affiliates and cleaning up on platforms. Italy automates blocks, Denmark stamps court lists, UK increases "disruption" through search engines/social networks, NL/DE/FR/ES put pressure on advertising and financial flows, Norway has connected a DNS block. For legal brands, this is a chance to rebuild and gain a foothold - subject to impeccable advertising, transparent payments and willingness to technically respond to block waves at any time.