BGC argues that Boxing Day sees Brits splurge on illegal gambling

• BGC says that Boxing Day sees increased spending on gambling, with a lot of money going to illegal and unsafe operators
• The trade group argues that more awareness about this issue is necessary amid a shifting regulatory landscape
• Regulated operators are subject to increased scrutiny and new binding rules, whereas the illegal market continues to get by and target customers unpunished

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has shared a report in which it outlined a worrying trend - that Brits tend to spend heavily on Boxing Day gambling, placing what the trade group estimates is £100m worth of bets on illegal gambling platforms.

Boxing Day sees uptake in overall gambling volume, and illegal gambling sites bag a lot of the action

This is a significant amount, the trade group warned, resulting in harm and problem gambling, with the total bet on a Boxing Day tantamount to 1% of the total wagered illegally every year.

The BGC cautioned that more awareness is needed to help the public understand how predatory operators are exploiting periods of heightened gambling activity and sports schedules, pointing out the apparent deficiencies of these platforms.

Among the red flags the BGC highlighted were the lack of consumer protection measures employed by such platforms, with no age verification, affordability, or other important guardrails present at such non-UKGC licensed entities.

BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst has highlighted the issue in a statement:

"Boxing Day is one of the biggest days of the year for sport and betting, and the harmful illegal black market is gearing up for a huge payday, with Brits set to stake up to £100 million illegally in just 24 hours.

That money goes straight to criminal operators who offer zero protection and pay no tax. If higher taxes make regulated betting less attractive, the harmful black market will be the only winner. That is bad for consumers, jobs, and the public finances."

Regulated operators are increasingly under pressure

Hurst similarly insisted that it is important for the government to pay heed to the fact that regulated operators are already supporting a vibrant and economically important industry, which has generated 109,000 jobs, and has contributed more than £6.8bn to the economy in 2024 alone.

At the same time, Hurst called for the government and lawmakers to pay attention to the fact that licensed operators are under increased scrutiny, and face a new tax regime come April next year.

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