BGC: Boxing Day Saw Approximately £100m Staked on Britain’s Gambling Black Market

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has said Britain’s illegal gambling black market is estimated to have taken approximately £100m in consumer stakes on Boxing Day, Friday 26 December.

The trade body said St Stephen’s Day, a public holiday in Great Britain, typically accounts for around one per cent of annual betting activity, driven by a packed sporting schedule including horse racing and football.

On that basis, the BGC believes approximately £100m may have been wagered with unlicensed black-market operators during the 24-hour period.

Grainne Hurst, chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said:

“Boxing Day is one of the biggest days of the year for sport and betting, and the harmful illegal black market is gearing up for a huge payday, with Brits set to stake up to £100 million illegally in just 24 hours.

“That money goes straight to criminal operators who offer zero protections and pay no tax. If higher taxes make regulated betting less attractive, the harmful black market will be the only winner. That is bad for consumers, jobs and the public finances.”

The comments come as the BGC continues to oppose proposed government tax increases on the gambling sector. While its campaign helped protect the retail betting industry, online gambling remains subject to significant planned rises.

Under current proposals, online gambling tax rates are due to increase from 21 per cent to 40 per cent from April 2026, with online sports betting tax set to rise from 15 per cent to 25 per cent a year later.

The BGC has consistently warned that higher tax burdens risk driving customers away from the regulated market and towards illegal operators, weakening consumer protections and reducing tax revenues.