The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has called on the government to provide greater support to the licensed gambling industry when it comes to tackling the threat of the black market.
Speaking on a panel at iGB L!VE in London yesterday, 2 July, the BGC’s head of insights, Alex Roberts, suggested the industry needs more support when dealing with unlicensed operators, and that government backing was the best way to make sure the issue is taken seriously.
He said: “The black market is tough, and it’s growing. Both land-based and online operations are very sophisticated.
“While governments and regulators are accepting that the black market is a massive threat, it has to be a cross-industry, cross-government, cross-boarders approach.
“Until this is an issue that’s in the public eye that people take seriously, which is backed by the government, it’s going to be tough to combat.”
A report released by the BGC in September 2024 estimated that UK bettors stake £4.3bn on the black market every year.
Back in March, Roberts spoke of the dangers of overregulation driving players towards the black market, using Germany as an example.
In his remarks at the London-based industry event, Roberts attested that the fear of overregulation shouldn’t dissuade lawmakers from trying to strike the right balance.
He added: “We have to accept that some services are unavailable in the UK. It is inevitable that regulation has driven some people towards the black market, but that can’t be an argument against regulation – it’s an argument for balanced regulation.”
So far this year, the government has introduced a £5 online slots stake limit for over 25s, in addition to a £2 cap for young adults. The £5 cap came into effect in April, with the £2 limit enforced from May.
Mandatory deposit limits for customers are also set to come into effect from 31 October 2025.
Meanwhile, the Gambling Commission (GC) has confirmed a ban on mixed product promotions and limiting wagering requirements to 10x, with both measures due to commence by 19 December 2025.
Roberts also spoke of the need to limit young people’s exposure to black market sources, claiming that raising awareness of the regulated market would be an effective tool.
He continued: “We have to be careful with how much exposure young people are getting from illegal sites.
“Removing gambling advertising wouldn’t do anything; they’re not getting exposure from TV and billboards, they’re getting it from online. We need to be very wary of the marketing that’s targeting a tech-savvy generation.
“Awareness is the number one thing you can prioritise. We need to do a coordinated campaign to make sure people know what a regulated operator is. We have to talk up the benefits of the industry, about how it’s safe and promotes a good experience.”
The post BGC calls for more government backing to combat black market threat first appeared on EGR Intel.
Trade body’s head of insights Alex Roberts says a “cross-industry, cross-government, cross-boarders approach” is the key to tackling unlicensed operators in the UK
The post BGC calls for more government backing to combat black market threat first appeared on EGR Intel.