The Betting and Gaming Council warns that stakes placed with illegal operators could exceed £33 billion by 2028, demanding coordinated action from the Government, regulators, tech giants, and financial institutions.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), the body representing around 90% of the regulated betting and gaming industry in the United Kingdom, has unveiled an ambitious five-measure plan to combat the growth of the online gambling black market, alerting to the severe risks it poses to consumers and the sector's integrity.
The organization contends that the expansion of illegal operators is accelerating, citing estimates from H2 Gambling Capital which suggest that stakes wagered in the black market could surge from £17 billion in 2025 to over £33 billion in 2028. Should these forecasts materialize, nearly one in every five pounds bet online in the UK would end up on unauthorized platforms.
According to the BGC, these illegal operators do not offer identity controls or age verification, fail to apply responsible gaming tools, do not pay taxes, do not fund British sports, and expose users to higher risks of fraud, financial crimes, and gambling-related harm.
Five Measures to Halt the Illegal Market
The proposal presented by the trade association revolves around five main pillars:
- Eliminate Illegal Advertising
The BGC demands that social networks and digital platforms take greater responsibility for removing advertisements and promotional content from unauthorized operators. The organization warns that rogue companies increasingly utilize social media, search engines, and digital tools to target and acquire customers.
- Block Illegal Websites and Apps
The entity calls for strengthening the powers of the UK Gambling Commission to shut down unauthorized websites, remove illegal apps, and disrupt operators that mimic regulated brands to lure users.
- Cut Off Payment Flows
The plan proposes preventing payment providers and financial institutions from processing transactions linked to illegal operators, directly attacking the business model that sustains the black market.
- Sanction Activity Facilitators
The association requests penalties for businesses that knowingly provide advertising, web hosting, payment processing, or other technological solutions to illegal operators.
- Toughen Criminal Penalties
Finally, the BGC demands a more severe punitive framework for those who operate, support, or profit from illegal gambling activities targeted at British consumers.
BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst described the forecasts as a "wake-up call" for all stakeholders involved in consumer protection. She noted that illegal operators are taking advantage of social media, search engines, affiliate platforms, and new technologies like artificial intelligence to acquire users outside the regulated system. Furthermore, she argued that fighting the black market should not be seen merely as an industry issue, but as a matter of consumer protection, public health, and criminal justice.
The BGC welcomed the British Government's creation of a specific taskforce against the gambling black market, though it deems current measures insufficient given the growing sophistication of rogue operators. The organization concludes that any policy that inadvertently pushes consumers toward unregulated platforms could strengthen criminal organizations, increase risks for players, and undermine the progress achieved in responsible gaming within the regulated market.
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