Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) CEO Grainne Hurst has once again warned incoming British tax hikes will boost black market activity after research revealed more than half of bettors believe the increases will see a flight to unlicensed operators.
The poll, conducted by public affairs firm Anacta and commissioned by the BCG ahead of its AGM on Thursday, 26 February, found 66% of respondents who bet would find betting and gaming less enjoyable due to tax increases.
It showed 52% of respondents who bet believe the increase in duty will lead players to the black market, while 57% think gambling is already heavily regulated.
In last year’s Autumn Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced remote gaming duty will jump from 21% to 40% from April 2026, while remote betting duty will increase from 15% to 25% the following April.
Horseracing, self-service betting terminals, spread betting and pools betting were excluded from the increases.
Reiterating points made before the duty increase was announced last November, Hurst said the government must get behind the regulated sector if it wants to drive growth.
“When you tax responsible, regulated betting and gaming companies harder, you do not reduce demand you simply drive customers towards the unsafe, unregulated black market,” she said.
“Illegal gambling sites do not pay tax. They do not contribute to British sport. They do not invest in safer gambling and they do not protect vulnerable people.
“If the government wants growth and genuine consumer protection, it must back the regulated sector not make it less competitive against criminals.”
The polling came ahead of the BGC’s AGM in London, headlined ‘The Illegal Market: Real Risks. Real Harm’ and with speakers including the Gambling Commission’s Tim Miller and gambling minister Baroness Twycross.
Hurst’s comments come after the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced earlier this week that was set to launch a consultation into black market operators sponsoring British clubs and sports.
The current Premier League season is the last that will see gambling operators sponsoring clubs on the front of their shirts, after teams agreed in 2023 to the voluntary measure.
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The post Drum banged again as BGC boss warns tax hike will boost black market activity first appeared on EGR Intel.
Grainne Hurst’s comments arrive after trade body-commissioned polling finds 52% of respondents who bet believe duty increases will push players to unlicensed operators
The post Drum banged again as BGC boss warns tax hike will boost black market activity first appeared on EGR Intel.