Illegal Betting Traffic In Britain Surges Despite Regulatory Crackdown

Traffic to illegal gambling websites in Britain has increased sharply over the past four years, with new research indicating that unlicensed operators continue to attract substantial numbers of bettors despite intensified enforcement efforts.

A study published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Council on Anti-Illegal Betting and Related Crime found that monthly visits to illegal betting websites increased from 1.8 million in 2022 to more than 25 million in 2025.

The research examined traffic across 301 betting websites accessed by British consumers, comprising 74 licensed operators and 227 illegal or unlicensed sites. During the first seven months of 2026, the study recorded 19.4 visits to illegal websites for every 100 visits to licensed operators, equivalent to approximately one illegal visit for every five legal visits.

The findings have prompted renewed concerns from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), which has warned that regulatory changes affecting licensed betting businesses could contribute to customers moving towards operators outside the UK's gambling framework.

Illegal Betting Traffic Remains Elevated

The IFHA's analysis found that visitors are also spending more time engaging with unlicensed gambling websites, suggesting that activity extends beyond occasional visits.

Between October 2024 and July 2026, the average duration of a visit to an illegal betting website increased by 32%, rising from five minutes and 38 seconds to seven minutes and 25 seconds. The average number of pages viewed per visit also climbed by 34%, from 5.19 to 6.98.

A separate examination of 32 illegal websites accepting bets on British horseracing identified an even sharper increase over a longer period. Between January and July 2026, these sites attracted 6.8 visits for every 100 visits to licensed betting websites, compared with 0.97 in late 2021.

That represents an almost sevenfold increase in the relative traffic recorded for the selected racing-related websites over approximately four years.

However, the figures measure website visits rather than individual bettors, gambling expenditure or the proportion of betting turnover captured by illegal operators. They therefore indicate changes in online traffic rather than establishing the precise financial size of Britain's illegal gambling market.

Gambling Commission Enforcement Intensifies

The growth in traffic has occurred despite substantial enforcement activity by the Gambling Commission, which has increased efforts to disrupt unlicensed operators targeting British consumers.

Since April 2024, the regulator has issued more than 3,100 cease-and-desist or disruption notices and secured the removal of almost 288,000 URLs associated with illegal gambling activity. Nevertheless, the research indicates that traffic to unlicensed websites remains considerably higher than levels recorded before the publication of the government's 2023 Gambling White Paper.

The IFHA argues that enforcement effectiveness should be assessed through sustained reductions in illegal gambling traffic rather than the volume of notices issued or websites removed. Its report calls for greater coordination between government departments, regulators, licensed operators, payment providers and technology companies to limit access to unregulated betting services.

The government has already introduced additional measures intended to strengthen enforcement. HM Treasury allocated £26 million to the Gambling Commission in the 2025 Budget, while the Department for Culture, Media and Sport established an Illegal Gambling Taskforce in January 2026.

A consultation launched during the summer also proposed restrictions on sponsorship and advertising by unlicensed gambling operators, an approach supported by the BHA.

British Racing Raises Concerns Over Regulatory Impact

The findings arrive during a period of significant regulatory and commercial pressure on British horseracing, with the industry facing changes introduced following the Gambling Act Review alongside wider taxation measures.

Online betting turnover on horseracing has fallen by more than £2 billion since its peak during the 2021–22 period, according to figures highlighted by the BHA. While turnover on live-event betting has weakened, online casino products have demonstrated greater resilience, with some areas continuing to record growth.

The racing authority has repeatedly raised concerns that additional restrictions on licensed gambling operators could encourage customers to seek alternatives outside the regulated market. However, the IFHA's website traffic analysis does not establish that specific regulatory changes caused the increase in illegal betting activity.

BHA Chief Executive Brant Dunshea said:

“Throughout the Gambling Act Review, British racing consistently warned that even well-intentioned policy changes could have unintended consequences for our sport, including driving more customers towards the illegal market.

“This research provides worrying evidence that those concerns are now being realised, with an increasing number of consumers seemingly conducting their betting with illegal operators.

“Every racing customer who moves from a licensed operator to an illegal one faces greater risks and fewer consumer protections. These unlicensed businesses also contribute nothing to British racing or to the public finances.”

BHA Calls For Greater Government Action

The BHA intends to share the research with government officials as it seeks stronger action against illegal gambling operators and greater consideration of the impact that regulatory changes may have on the licensed betting market.

Although the authority welcomed the creation of the Illegal Gambling Taskforce earlier this year, it has expressed frustration with the pace of progress and is calling for more urgent intervention.

Dunshea added:

“We recognise the Commission’s recent increase in enforcement activity, but we will be sharing these findings with Government and urging it to work with us to keep bettors within the regulated market as this leakage continues to grow.

“While the taskforce’s creation was welcomed as a positive development, it is over nine months since that initial announcement was made, and progress so far has been limited. We therefore look forward to working with the new Gambling Minister, Vicky Foxcroft, to inject some urgency into this process.

“This study is another clear reminder that gambling regulation must be balanced and proportionate, allowing people who bet safely on racing to continue doing so without unnecessary disruption.”

The IFHA's research adds to the debate surrounding Britain's gambling regulatory framework, particularly the balance between consumer protection, enforcement and maintaining a competitive licensed market.

With illegal betting traffic remaining substantially above earlier levels, the findings place renewed attention on whether existing enforcement measures are effectively reducing the reach of unlicensed operators and protecting consumers who gamble online.