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  • UK Gambling Black Market Pocketed GBP 100M In Bets on Boxing Day, Says BGC

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    According to a warning from the UK’s Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), the country’s gambling black market is expected to have taken advantage of Boxing Day betting activity, with up to GBP 100 million (about $135 million) potentially staked outside the regulated sector.

    BGC Estimates Over GBP 100 Million Spent in Illegal Bets on Boxing Day

    Industry analysis drawing on data from H2 Gambling Capital indicates that the black market already handles billions of pounds in illegal gambling stakes each year. The BGC calculated the expected GBP 100 million in spending by taking into account that Boxing Day represents about 1% of total annual betting activity.

    The BGC’s warning underscores growing concern that the UK’s recent Budget could further accelerate the expansion of the harmful illegal black market. Earlier this month, the BGC criticized the autumn budget, saying that the proposed tax increases on gambling could lead to industry-wide job cuts and also push bettors further into the black market.

    The Government’s own forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), has acknowledged that the tax changes are expected to cut projected revenues by around one third by 2029–30, as consumers shift their behaviour away from regulated betting and towards illegal operators, leading to an estimated GBP 500 million (approximately $677 million) shortfall in tax receipts next year.

    Industry Experts Warn About the Issues

    BGC chief executive Grainne Hurst said that Boxing Day is one of the busiest days of the year for sport and betting, and warned that the illegal gambling black market is preparing to profit significantly. She added that this money flows directly to criminal operators who provide no consumer protections and contribute nothing in taxes. 

    Hurst also warned that if higher taxes make regulated betting less appealing, the illegal black market will be the primary beneficiary, with negative consequences for consumers, employment, and public finances.

    Licensed operators must comply with stringent requirements on player protection, affordability checks, and anti-money laundering, while also contributing billions of pounds to the UK economy and providing vital support to British sport and racing. In contrast, the harmful illegal black market operates beyond the reach of the law, targeting UK consumers without regulation, accountability, or tax payments.

    The BGC has called on policymakers to work closely with the licensed sector to ensure that consumer protection measures, including those currently being introduced, do not unintentionally push customers towards unregulated and unlawful markets.

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    Stefan Velikov

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  • BGC Looks Forward to Improving Gambling Standards with the New Government

    BGC Looks Forward to Improving Gambling Standards with the New Government

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    Britain’s Betting and Gaming Council has welcomed the new government, expressing its commitment to working with Keir Starmer’s Labour to “deliver a world-class betting and gaming industry.”

    The Labour Party defeated the conservatives at Rishi Sunak’s snap election on July 4, potentially marking a new era for gambling standards. Prior to the elections, Starmer’s party vowed to work with the industry and improve the safer gambling standards alongside the BGC.

    This change comes amid some of the biggest regulatory reforms in the history of British gaming, following the publication of the white paper in 2023. While the reformation process was mired by political instability and delayed on multiple occasions, industry stakeholders are optimistic that the new government would deliver on many of the changes outlined in the white paper.

    As for the BGC, the industry body says that it remains committed to delivering the “evidence-based, proportionate proposals” contained in the paper.

    BGC Has Long Seen Labour as a “Government in Waiting”

    Michael Dugher, chair of the BGC, commented on the matter. On behalf of the council, its members, the 110,000 people whose jobs rely on the gaming and betting sector and the millions of players, he welcomed Labour’s victory and its commitment to working with the industry.

    Dugher highlighted the high standards underpinning British gaming and vowed to make further investments in “virtually every constituency.” He added that the political certainty heralded by Labour’s victory comes at a crucial time for the industry and would help it to bolster its sustainability.

    The BGC chair admitted that the council has long treated the Labour Party as “a government in waiting” and, because of that, has been working closely with shadow ministers in recent years.

    Our work to drive up standards and champion a world-leading British industry carries on and we look forward to partnering with Labour – as they have pledged – in this vitally important work.

    Michael Dugher, chair, BGC

    The BGC mentioned that the UK gaming industry supports 110,000 jobs, generates £4.2 billion in tax and contributes £7.1 billion to the economy. The council added that its members also provide crucial funding to sports clubs and leagues across the country, as well as to the horseracing sector.

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    Angel Hristov

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  • BGC’s Levy Payments to HBLB Increase for the Third Year in a Row

    BGC’s Levy Payments to HBLB Increase for the Third Year in a Row

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    Britain’s Betting and Gaming Council announced that its members are expected to contribute a record £105 million ($133.6 million) in levy payments to the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) for last year. This figure would mark an increase of £5 million and is notably the third consecutive year of year-on-year increase.

    For context, the BGC’s levy contributions for 2021/22 and 2022/23 were £97 million and £100 million respectively. According to the HBLB, this year’s total of £105 million is “derived from the receipt of provisional end of year submissions from most levy-paying bookmakers.”

    Thanks to this increase in funding in 2023/24, the HBLB announced an increase of £3.2 million to £70.5 million in its prize money contribution for 2024. For comparison, the board’s prize money contribution for 2023 stood at £67.3 million.

    Michael Dugher, the BGC chief executive officer said that this record contribution is “extremely welcome news.” He said that the figure highlights the “enduring, mission-critical support” that the gambling industry provides to the betting sector.

    The Horseracing Sector Has Been on a Decline

    Despite being the second biggest spectator sport in the UK, horseracing has been in decline since 2007. Whereas 17% of the population enjoyed wagering on racing that year, only 10% did so in 2018. Racecourse attendance, on the other hand, has declined 14% since 2019.

    The BGC, however, remains bullish on revitalizing the sector. Dugher said that there is still hope, despite the double-digit decline in horserace betting turnover over the past years. He expressed confidence that the increase in contributions will be a boon to horseracing. Dugher also pointed out that betting remains the lifeline of the racing sector.

    Dugher added that the BGC members remain committed to the sector’s success. He praised horseracing’s contribution to rural economies and said that the BGC hopes that the sector will be able to reverse its decline.

    Attention must now turn to how we challenge vested interests, introduce real change and reform the sport, ensuring we reverse the current decline and provide racing with a genuinely long-term sustainable future.

    Michael Dugher, CEO & chair, BGC

    The BGC Is Committed to Supporting the Racing Sector

    In an effort to protect the sector, the BGC made serious efforts to reduce the negative impact of the government’s ongoing gambling reforms. To that end, the BGC recently introduced a new voluntary industry Code on Customer Checks in hopes of raising standards without infringing on customers’ privacy.

    The code was developed in collaboration with the UKGC and was backed by the government. As announced earlier, the Code will operate as a voluntary interim scheme until the government is able to test and implement the controversial affordability checks outlined in the white paper.

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    Angel Hristov

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