BGC Warns of Rapid Growth in UK's Illegal Gambling Black Market

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has sounded the alarm over the rapid growth of the black market in illegal gambling in the UK, which has now reached nearly £17 billion annually. This significant expansion has raised concerns about the effectiveness of current regulatory measures and the need for more decisive action.

The black market has grown threefold since 2019 and doubled in size in the past two years, according to research cited by the BGC. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has responded by setting up a new head of illegal gambling markets position to address this growing threat. Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the BGC, highlighted the sophistication and aggressiveness of illegal operators, stating, 'What we are seeing is a harmful black market scaling up at a pace. Illegal operators are becoming more sophisticated, more visible, and more aggressive in how they reach UK customers. That should concern anyone who cares about consumer protection.'

Matej Novota, Head of Casino Research at Casino Guru, echoed these concerns, noting that the black market's growth is a systemic failure. He emphasized the lack of legal tools to punish those running these operations effectively. 'These numbers should alarm everyone in the industry. A black market that has tripled in size since 2019 and now approaches £17bn is not a fringe problem. It is a systemic failure. And the root cause remains unchanged: we still lack the legal tools to meaningfully punish the people running these operations.'