Illegal gambling in the UK now sits near the centre of the safer gambling debate. Betting and Gaming Council says unlicensed betting sites are taking more money, buying more ads, and reaching British players through normal online channels.
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Betting and Gaming Council wants the UK to cut off illegal gambling from three sides at once: ads, payments, and access. Its new five point plan targets social media platforms, payment firms, hosting providers, app stores, and people who profit from unlicensed betting.
BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst said the warning signs already look clear.
“The black market is growing fast, becoming more visible and attracting billions of pounds in stakes from British consumers,” Hurst said.
“These forecasts are a wake-up call for everyone involved in protecting consumers.”
The plan starts with illegal gambling advertising. BGC wants social media companies to remove unlawful gambling ads and content faster, as unlicensed operators keep using search and social channels to target UK players. WARC research adds another problem for regulators, as illegal operators now account for almost half of all UK gambling advertising spend and could overtake licensed firms by 2028.
Payment blocking also sits near the top of the list. BGC wants payment providers to stop transactions tied to illegal betting sites. Many offshore operators still rely on legitimate financial systems while offering no UK player protection.
BGC also wants the Gambling Commission to receive stronger powers to block illegal websites and remove unlicensed gambling apps. Criminal operators can rebuild sites quickly, copy regulated brands, and return under new domains, so enforcement has to move faster than a normal takedown process.
The fourth point targets companies that knowingly help illegal gambling businesses with advertising, hosting, payment processing, or other services. The fifth calls for tougher criminal sanctions against people and organisations that operate, support, or profit from illegal gambling aimed at UK consumers.
Hurst said: “The evidence is already clear. Illegal operators are targeting British consumers online, advertising through social media, processing payments through legitimate financial systems and exploiting gaps in enforcement.”
“If policymakers fail to tackle this growing threat, more gambling will take place in environments with no safeguards, no oversight and no consumer protections.”
H2 Gambling Capital estimates illegal operator stakes have already reached £16.6 billion, more than three times the 2019 level. The consultancy also says black-market operator profits and stakes doubled between 2023 and 2025.
Regulated UK betting companies must follow rules on age checks, safer gambling tools, anti-money laundering controls, and customer redress. Unlicensed sites do not follow that framework. They also pay no UK gambling tax and contribute nothing to British sport.
BGC said the Government Black Market Taskforce gave enforcement a useful starting point, but the trade body wants stronger coordination between regulators, law enforcement, banks, payment firms, tech companies, and licensed gambling operators.
“This is not simply an issue for the regulated industry. It is a consumer protection issue, a public health issue and a criminal justice issue,” Hurst said.
“Government, regulators, technology companies and payment providers must work together to stop illegal operators reaching British consumers, cut off their funding and hold those who facilitate their activities accountable.”