Illegal gambling operators could handle as much as £800m in bets during the 2026/27 Premier League season, according to the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). Around £20m may have been wagered through unlicensed sites during the opening weekend.
The BGC expects illegal Premier League betting to rise by another £200m next season following the planned increase in General Betting Duty, taking the annual figure to around £1bn. Its analysis indicates that unlicensed operators typically receive between £15m and £20m in bets each Premier League weekend.
The warning comes as clubs begin the first season under the voluntary removal of gambling brands from the front of team shirts. The restriction does not cover sleeves or training kits.
Tax Changes Add To Black Market Concerns
The BGC supports the shirt sponsorship change and has welcomed government plans to prevent clubs from accepting sponsorship from gambling companies without UK licences. It has also called for restrictions covering unlicensed gambling sponsorship across British sport.
Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “Millions of football fans will enjoy a bet safely with regulated operators this season, backing their team week in, week out.
“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.
“These operators pay no tax, fund nothing and answer to no one. Every pound they take is a pound lost to British sport and to the Treasury.”
Remote Gaming Duty increased from 21% to 40% in April, 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 raise more than £1bn annually.
H2 Gambling Capital forecasts illegal betting in Britain will rise from nearly £17bn this year to more than £33bn by 2028. WARC analysis separately found that unregulated operators account for almost half of UK gambling advertising spending.
Illegal Gambling Reaches Consumers
The Gambling Commission has identified several routes to illegal operators, including searches for better offers, attempts to avoid identity checks and efforts to find alternatives after licensed operators block customers. Affiliates, influencers, social media, crypto trading and online gaming can also direct users to unlicensed sites.
Such operators may lack age verification, secure payment systems and recognised dispute-resolution procedures. Reported risks include withheld payouts, restrictive withdrawal conditions, fraud and identity theft.
Frontier Economics estimated in BGC-commissioned research published in 2024 that £2.7bn was staked annually with illegal online operators, while 1.5 million people used the wider black market. H2 Gambling Capital separately estimated offshore betting turnover at £16.6bn last year, compared with about £5bn in 2019. Offshore gross gambling yield rose from £200m to £685m.
Hurst said: “Licensed operators are regulated in Britain and follow strict rules on consumer protection, safer gambling and robust financial safeguards. Illegal black market operators do not. They undermine player protections, avoid taxes, ignore safer gambling standards and put consumers at serious risk.”
“With illegal betting on the Premier League on course to reach £1bn a season, we support action that protects fans, upholds standards and keeps customers safe within the regulated market.”
The regulated betting and gaming industry supports more than 109,000 jobs, contributes £6.8bn to the UK economy and generates more than £4bn in annual tax.
Source:
“Black Market Betting On Premier League To Hit £1bn A Season”, bettingandgamingcouncil.com, August 24, 2026
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