Racing presenter Frankie Foster is the brand new face of a Betting and Gaming Council video collection exposing the dangers of the playing black market.
Foster is fronting a new marketing campaign from the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) that goals to reveal the fast progress of the UK black market, whereas additionally warning that elevating taxes on regulating betting would solely make the issue worse. For the time being, it’s estimated that round 1.5 million Britons are already playing with unlicensed websites. That represents as much as £4.3 billion ($5.8 billion) price of bets.
A whole lot of unlawful playing websites are being shut down… however extra maintain popping up. Racing presenter @FrankieFoster3_ reveals how the black market is rising quick _ and why balanced regulation is the easiest way to maintain these rogue operators in examine. pic.twitter.com/08zrfgUCm3
— Betting and Gaming Council (@BetGameCouncil) September 4, 2025
The operators of those unlawful providers don’t pay any tax and the shortage of regulation leaves them in a position to break UK guidelines of equity round gaming. The most important concern, nevertheless, is the focusing on of weak teams on the biggest threat of gambling-related hurt who’ve already chosen to self-exclude.
Foster demonstrates within the video how straightforward it’s to make use of the unlawful websites, displaying how a easy Google search exposes you to illicit websites that seem professional.
“Elevating taxes on accountable, regulated betting corporations is not going to generate extra income for the Treasury,” argues the BGC. “As an alternative, it is going to drive extra clients in the direction of the black market, the place there are not any protections, no funding in sport and no contribution to the general public funds.”
Certainly, earlier knowledge from the BGC estimated that 28% of gamblers may flip to unlawful betting if taxes have been raised.
The price of black market betting
It’s estimated that black market exercise may already be costing the federal government £335 million ($451 million) in misplaced income over the course of 5 years. In distinction, the regulated betting trade contributes £6.8 billion ($9.2 billion) in gross worth added, £4 billion in taxes, and helps 109,000 jobs throughout the nation.
Unlawful playing is on the rise throughout Europe, with black market operators capturing over 70% of the continent’s on-line playing and on line casino market. With out balanced regulation, the UK dangers the identical final result – extra punters pushed to unsafe, untaxed websites.https://t.co/7QQGfBV1PO pic.twitter.com/7yLFf1VoRr
— Betting and Gaming Council (@BetGameCouncil) September 3, 2025
The BGC is asking on policymakers to recognise the hazards of driving punters into the arms of unlicensed and unsafe playing web sites, in addition to increase consciousness amongst the general public about what to look out for.
“Get the steadiness on tax and regulation unsuitable and also you hand a aggressive benefit to the black market, the place operators pay no tax, contribute nothing to British sport, and supply no safer playing protections,” stated BGC CEO Grainne Hurst. “The black market is rising and actively focusing on UK clients. Any tax rise, whether or not on betting or gaming, makes that supply extra engaging and places extra gamers in danger.”
Featured picture: BGC
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