The scale of illegal gambling in the UK has reached a new high. According to new research carried out by H2 Gambling Capital and shared by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), offshore betting has grown from around GBP 5 billion ($6.79 billion) in 2019 to GBP 16.6 billion ($22.5 billion).
This represents more than three times the 2019 level and has doubled in just the past two years. The acceleration signals a structural shift that licensed operators and policymakers can no longer treat as marginal.
3x Higher Than 2019 Numbers
The GBP 16.6 billion figure is more than three times higher than in 2019 and has doubled in just the past two years. Much of the increase has occurred recently, with both stakes and operator profits accelerating sharply between 2023 and 2025.
At the same time, the share of gambling taking place on regulated platforms has slipped from 97% to 92%. This erosion of market share for licensed operators underscores how quickly the black market can expand when conditions align.
Industry groups point to tighter regulations, rising taxes, and the increasing visibility of illegal gambling sites online as key drivers. According to separate findings from WARC, unlicensed operators now account for nearly half of all gambling advertising targeting UK customers.
That advertising share is expected to rise further. The combination of sophisticated digital marketing and friction in the regulated channel creates a powerful pull toward offshore platforms.
“Harmful Black Market Scaling Up”
BGC chief executive Grainne Hurst framed the trend bluntly. She stated: “What we are seeing is a harmful black market scaling up at pace. Illegal operators are becoming more sophisticated, more visible and more aggressive in how they reach UK customers.”
Hurst added: “That should concern anyone who cares about consumer protection. The choice for policymakers is clear. If the regulated sector becomes harder to use or less competitive, customers will not stop betting; they will simply go elsewhere.”
These warnings highlight a core tension. Unlicensed operators fall outside UK law, pay no tax, offer no consumer safeguards, and operate without the standards required of licensed companies.
Risk Checks and Unintended Consequences
The BGC has raised specific concerns over proposed financial risk checks. If these checks are not implemented in a smooth and low-friction way, they could unintentionally accelerate the migration of customers to the black market.
This risk represents a limitation in current policy thinking. Measures designed to protect consumers can, when poorly calibrated, produce the opposite effect by making the regulated environment feel cumbersome relative to unregulated alternatives.
Grainne Hurst’s comments underscore the competitive reality. Illegal operators do not face the same compliance costs or product restrictions. Their agility in marketing and product design gives them a structural advantage in environments where regulation adds friction.
Economic Contribution of the Regulated Sector
Despite the challenges, the regulated sector continues to play a significant role in the UK economy. It supports more than 100,000 jobs and contributes billions in tax revenue each year.
This contrast is stark. The legal industry delivers measurable economic value and consumer protections while the illegal market scales without contributing to the tax base or adhering to harm-minimization standards.
The data from H2 Gambling Capital illustrates an inflection point. What began as a modest offshore segment has matured into a multi-billion-pound parallel industry that now captures a growing share of UK gambling activity.
The Bottom Line
The surge of the UK illegal gambling market to GBP 16.6 billion ($22.5 billion) should serve as a clear signal to policymakers and operators alike. When regulated channels become harder to use or less competitive, customers migrate rather than stop betting. The regulated sector’s 92% share, down from 97%, demonstrates that tighter rules and higher taxes can expand the very black market they aim to suppress. A balanced approach that preserves consumer choice, maintains low-friction access, and keeps licensed operators competitive offers the most constructive path forward. Getting the calibration right will determine whether the UK’s legal gambling market retains its foundation or continues to cede ground to unregulated alternatives.
