As anticipation builds for the Grand National, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has released new figures suggesting that nearly £10 million could be wagered with unlicensed operators during the event. The data highlights growing concerns over the impact of the gambling black market on regulated sectors, tax revenues, and player protection.
According to BGC estimates, £9.4 million could be staked with illegal gambling platforms during the Aintree fixture. The Grand National, one of the most-watched horse races globally, attracts over 600 million viewers across 140 countries, with approximately 13 million UK adults expected to place bets this year. Total regulated stakes on the race are forecast to reach around £250 million.
The BGC, which represents more than 90% of the UK’s licensed betting and gaming industry, warned that illegal operators continue to undermine both public safety and economic returns. The organisation projects that legal Grand National betting will contribute £3 million in tax revenues and £2 million to the horseracing levy, directly supporting the sport. However, unlicensed platforms are estimated to divert millions away from the Treasury and the racing industry.
Recent BGC research indicates that up to £4.3 billion is wagered annually on the black market, with as many as 1.5 million UK adults engaging with unregulated platforms. Notably, over one in five bettors aged 18–24 reportedly use such sites, which often exploit online messaging apps and target vulnerable consumers, including those who have self-excluded from regulated providers.
The issue is not unique to the UK. A February report from the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities revealed a 522% increase in unique visitors to 22 unlicensed sites offering bets on British racing between August 2021 and September 2024. In contrast, legal platforms saw a 49% increase over the same period.
The BGC argues that robust regulation and stable taxation remain the most effective defences against black market growth. The regulated betting sector in the UK supports 109,000 jobs, contributes £6.8 billion to the economy, and raises £4 billion in taxes annually. It also provides approximately £350 million each year to British horseracing through sponsorship, media rights, and the levy, alongside further investments in sports such as football, rugby league, darts, and snooker.
With illegal gambling continuing to expand, the BGC has renewed calls for policymakers to ensure the right balance between consumer protection and maintaining a viable, competitive legal market.
Grainne Hurst, Betting and Gaming Council CEO, said: “Almost £10m is predicted to be staked illegally on the unsafe, growing gambling black market at this year’s Grand National, fuelling crime, undermining player protection measures, while sucking vital cash from sport and the Treasury.
“The Grand National is one of the precious few sporting events in this country with the ability to unite the entire nation around a single spectacle. It is the nation’s punt, and it is being subverted by illegal operators offering illicit gambling to thousands of punters, many of whom are vulnerable to harm.
“This should serve as a wake-up call for Government who must guard against overbearing regulations which risk driving punters into the arms of illegal operators. Balanced regulations and a stable tax regime are the best defences against this black market menace, which now poses an existential threat to British racing.”
