Illegal black market betting on the Premier League could hit £1billion next year, according to the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC).
The industry body is warning of a surge in criminal market betting with unregulated “bookies” and estimates that £20million will be spent with them this opening season weekend alone.
The warning comes as the regulated sector faces mounting pressure from higher taxes and fears that expected hikes in General Betting Duty, due from April next year, will pile even more pressure on licensed operators.
BGC chief warns of criminal market risks
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.
“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.”
Forecast for the new season
The body said illegal black market betting will take up to £800m in bets across this new Premier League season. That figure is forecast to climb by a further £200m next season.
The Premier League is the most watched football league in the world and one of the biggest betting events in the calendar.
Analysis suggests a typical weekend sees between £15m and £20m staked with unlicensed operators - millions of pounds on every single match, with the first round of fixtures expected towards the top of that range.
While millions of fans back their teams safely with regulated operators, criminal gambling firms are also lining up to cash in, offering betting products that sit entirely outside UK law and provide none of the standards, safeguards or consumer protections required in the regulated sector.
Industry measures and government action
The industry has removed betting sponsors from the front of Premier League shirts from this season, a step the BGC supports as part of raising standards.
The BGC has also welcomed the Government’s plan to stop Premier League clubs accepting sponsorship from gambling operators that do not hold a UK licence, and has called for that action to go further to prevent illegal firms sponsoring any sport in the UK.
The regulated betting and gaming sector supports more than 109,000 jobs, contributes £6.8bn to the UK economy and raises over £4bn in tax each year.
The BGC said tackling the criminal gangs behind illegal gambling websites must remain a priority to ensure customers stay within the regulated market, where protections are in place.
The government is giving the Gambling Commission up to £26m across three years to increase investment, resources and capacity to tackle the illegal market. In the last two years, sources said it had a renewed focus on finding innovative ways to tackle the illegal market.
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson said: “We are deeply concerned about all forms of illegal gambling, including unlicensed operators who target British consumers.
“That’s why we have ringfenced an extra £26 million to help the Gambling Commission tackle the illegal market - and why the work of our Illegal Gambling Taskforce is so important.
“We need urgent collective action from all parties to protect consumers and ensure that those who want to gamble are directed to the regulated market, where they can do so safely.”
