Publication Date: June 17, 2026, 07:34h.

Updated on: June 17, 2026, 07:56h.

• Tech companies accused of facilitating illegal gambling advertisements
• Black-market gambling operators exploit at-risk and self-excluded players online
• UK initiative launched to combat illegal betting transactions and advertising

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has criticized major tech companies for their inadequate measures in shielding the UK populace from an influx of illicit black-market gambling promotions.

As global betting for the World Cup is projected to hit $50 billion, BGC CEO Grainne Hurst raised concerns about black-market operators leveraging digital channels to reach at-risk individuals, including those who have opted for self-exclusion from gambling.

These illegal operators frequently utilize social media, search engines, messaging platforms, and affiliate sites to advertise their offerings and redirect users to offshore gambling websites. They often depend on digital payment methods that allow them to accept funds from customers in areas where they lack proper licensing.

The BGC represents roughly 90% of the UK’s regulated betting market, with prominent members including Flutter, Entain, Evoke, bet365, LeoVegas, and Rank Group.

Growth of the Black Market

In an open letter first highlighted by City AM, Hurst urged tech firms to take assertive action in mitigating illegal gambling advertisements by eliminating unlawful content before it reaches users, enhancing detection capabilities, collaborating with other platforms, and offering more transparency regarding enforcement measures.

Furthermore, the letter advocated for increased cooperation between tech companies, regulatory bodies, law enforcement, and the gambling sector to disrupt illegal gambling websites, which operate without adequate safeguards and consumer protection.

“You possess the data. You have the expertise. Your artificial intelligence technologies can recognize harmful illegal content at scale,” Hurst stated. “The question is no longer whether this issue can be resolved, but whether sufficient actions are being taken.”

Research conducted by WARC suggests that illegal operators currently account for approximately half of all gambling advertising expenditures, with projections indicating they may surpass the regulated market within two years.

Additionally, H2 Gambling Capital forecasts that bets placed on illegal platforms could increase from £17 billion in 2025 to over £33 billion by 2028, suggesting that one in every five pounds wagered online may originate from unlicensed sites.

“Illegal operators actively target consumers who have self-excluded from gambling. They exploit vulnerable individuals,” Hurst emphasized, adding, “They prey on those seeking assistance and support, all too often in plain sight.”

Illegal Gambling Taskforce Initiatives

Earlier this month, the BGC introduced a five-point strategy aimed at disrupting the digital framework that allows unlicensed gambling sites to target British consumers, facilitate transactions, and advertise their services online.

In May, the UK Department for Culture, Media, and Sport announced the formation of a new Illegal Gambling Taskforce.

This taskforce will bring together stakeholders from various sectors, including gambling, payments, technology, regulation, and law enforcement, to focus on dismantling the infrastructure supporting illegal gambling, with an initial emphasis on payment systems, online advertising, and coordinated enforcement efforts.