Visits to illegal betting websites in Britain have surged, with black market traffic now accounting for one in every six visits to betting sites, according to new data.
A survey by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' Council on Anti-Illegal Betting and Related Crime monitored traffic on over 300 betting websites used in Britain between 2021 and 2026. Of those, 74 are legal and 227 operate on the black market.
Sharp rise in black market visits
In the second half of 2021, for every 100 visits to licensed sites, there was just one to an illegal operator. That figure rose to 26.6 in 2025, and from January to July this year it stands at 19.4 - one visit to the black market for every five to the regulated sector.
By the end of 2026, it is estimated there will have been 18.9 million unique visits to illegal websites - 10 times more than in 2022.
British Horseracing Authority chief executive Brant Dunshea said: "While the taskforce's creation was welcomed as a positive development, progress so far has been limited."
Taskforce under scrutiny
The Illegal Gambling Taskforce was set up by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in January. The black market means no protection for problem gamblers, no revenue via taxation for the exchequer and no money coming back into racing.
The data suggests the taskforce is currently more Dad's Army than The A-Team, with calls for it to intensify its offensive on the black market.
