New report claims global illegal gambling market hits $50bn

• The BGC has cited a report by Fincord Intelligence in which it described how the illegal gambling market is actively targeting Britons
• These websites specifically target gamblers who are registered on GAMSTOP, and resort to influencer marketing and a complex ecosystem to stay up and running no matter the regulatory response
• The global gambling revenue generated by the illegal gambling business in 2025 was $50bn

A new report cited by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has noted that the global gambling market reached $50bn in 2025, taking a significant toll on vulnerable consumers, particularly in the United Kingdom.

BGC focuses on the fact that illegal gambling is targeting vulnerable Britons

Conducted by Fincord Intelligence, the BGC focused on specifically talking about the methods and strategies used by illegal gambling websites to reach at-risk and problem gamblers in the country, resorting to several morally dubious practices.

Notably, the report said that many casinos were marketed through the "Not on GAMSTOP" (sic) keyword technique whereby illicit operators are specifically targeting people who have already enrolled in the nation’s self-exclusion program.

This means that certain casinos are specifically targeting vulnerable consumers who are more likely to be spending without realizing, in the moment, the financial toll they are experiencing.

Such websites, the BGC notes, citing the Fincord Intelligence report, have little to no financial checks and betting limits. But customers are not reached only through traditional search engines.

"Illegal operatorsare deliberately targeting vulnerable customers in the UK, including people who have self-excluded, using social media, affiliates and messaging platforms to avoid the protections of the regulated market," BGC CEO Grainne Hurst noted, and has urged the government to step up its efforts to orchestrate a coordinated effort between various law enforcement agencies and payment operators.

Marketers for these websites also seek to target them through dedicated affiliates, instant messaging platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp, and social media.

Such platforms are also resorting to influencer marketing, where people who have gained an online presence begin sending their followers to such websites, further expanding their reach with ordinary people, and particularly those who may be at risk or already experience gambling-related issues.

Illegal operators can recover rapidly

Fincord Intelligence has also taken a look at the number of "operator structures," identifying 5,000 such entities, and was able to determine that they had used 15,000 websites and apps, with mirror domains, VPN access, and various browser-based applications to ensure that after they are shut down, they can restart - sometimes in the matter of minutes.

Based on the same report, this has resulted in around $50bn in gross revenue globally generated by the illegal gambling business.

Fincord Intelligence noted that the model that illegal gambling uses has shifted from insulated independent networks to a global ecosystem that operates through cryptocurrency services, tech platforms, influencers, payment providers, and affiliates to ensure that it continues to generate revenue.

"In Britain, these networks target customers - including people who have self-excluded - through social media, messaging platforms, and mirror sites. The Ukraine case demonstrates how the same type of interconnected infrastructure can also create wider financial crime and national security risks," the company said.

Previously, the BGC has urged the government to empower operators in a way that gives them more wiggle room in the domestic market, without overbearing regulation that not only saps their competitiveness but also forces them to cede ground to the illegal market.

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