BGC Warns Black Market Premier League Betting Could Reach £1bn Per Season

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has warned that illegal operators could take as much as £1bn in bets on Premier League football each season, amid growing concerns over the migration of customers away from Britain’s regulated gambling market.

In a letter published on 24 August, the trade body said unlicensed bookmakers are already taking millions of pounds during each round of Premier League fixtures. Unlike licensed operators, these businesses do not pay UK gambling taxes and operate outside Gambling Commission requirements covering areas including safer gambling and consumer protection.

BGC Raises Concerns Over Illegal Operators

BGC CEO Grainne Hurst said the vast majority of football bettors continue to use licensed operators, but warned that the black market is increasingly seeking to attract those customers.

“Millions of football fans will enjoy a bet safely with regulated operators this season, backing their team week in, week out,” Hurst said.

“But the criminal black market is looking to cash in too, taking millions of pounds on every round of matches while offering customers none of the protections found in the regulated sector.”

The warning coincides with the first Premier League season in which gambling companies are prohibited from appearing as front-of-shirt sponsors. Clubs agreed to the voluntary measure in 2023 ahead of its introduction for the 2026/27 campaign, although gambling sponsorship remains permitted on shirt sleeves, training wear and through other commercial partnerships.

Scale Of UK Black Market Under Scrutiny

Estimates of the size of Britain’s illegal gambling market vary considerably depending on the methodology used. Research commissioned by the BGC from Frontier Economics in 2024 estimated that £2.7bn was being staked annually with illegal online operators, with approximately 1.5 million people participating in the wider black market, including through illegal land-based gambling.

More recent estimates from H2 Gambling Capital placed offshore betting turnover at £16.6bn in 2025, compared with approximately £5bn in 2019. Its estimate for offshore gross gambling yield also increased from £200m to £685m over that period.

The Gambling Commission has previously identified several reasons why consumers may access unlicensed websites, including seeking different offers, attempting to avoid identity checks or looking for alternatives after being restricted by licensed operators. Consumers who have self-excluded through Gamstop may also search for gambling websites that operate outside the scheme.

Such operators do not have to comply with the consumer safeguards imposed on UK licensees. The regulator has highlighted potential risks associated with illegal gambling sites including withheld winnings, problematic withdrawal conditions, fraud and identity theft.

Tax Changes Add To Industry Cost Pressures

The BGC's warning also comes during a period of significant tax increases for licensed online gambling businesses. Remote Gaming Duty increased from 21% to 40% in April 2026, while remote betting duty is scheduled to rise from 15% to 25% in April 2027, excluding UK horse racing.

The government expects the changes to generate more than £1bn in additional annual revenue. Its assessment of the measures has also acknowledged that changes made by licensed operators in response to higher taxation, including potentially reducing odds or customer returns, could result in some consumers switching activities or accessing illegal gambling websites.

The scale of any resulting movement towards unlicensed operators remains the subject of debate between policymakers, regulators and the gambling industry. However, the BGC argues that the potential £1bn in Premier League wagers represents another indication of the challenge posed by illegal operators as the regulatory and financial environment facing licensed businesses continues to change.