According to the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), illegal gambling operators are projected to handle up to £800 million (approximately $1 billion) in bets on the Premier League for the upcoming season. Notably, around £20 million (about $27 million) is expected to be wagered during the opening weekend alone.
This figure is anticipated to increase by an additional £200 million (around $272 million) in the next season, bringing the total illegal betting on the Premier League to roughly £1 billion (approximately $1.36 billion) annually, following a rise in Britain's General Betting Duty in April.
The Premier League stands as one of the largest sporting betting events globally, with estimates suggesting that between £15 million and £20 million is typically wagered with unlicensed operators over a weekend. The initial round of fixtures is likely to generate betting at the higher end of this spectrum, with millions potentially placed with illegal operators for each match.
In a significant move, the regulated gambling industry has removed betting sponsors from the front of Premier League jerseys starting this season, a decision supported by the BGC. The organization has also endorsed plans to prohibit Premier League clubs from accepting sponsorships from gambling operators lacking a UK license and has urged for these restrictions to be applied across all sports in Britain.
However, the BGC cautioned that while regulated advertising becomes less visible, the demand for betting does not vanish; instead, it shifts towards less regulated channels where illegal operators are rapidly expanding. Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the BGC, stated, "Millions of football fans will enjoy a bet safely with regulated operators this season, supporting their teams week after week. But the criminal black market is also looking to profit, taking millions on every match while providing none of the protections available in the regulated sector."
Hurst emphasized that black market operators evade taxes and accountability, pointing out that "every pound they take is a pound lost to British sports and the Treasury." She added, "Licensed operators in Britain adhere to strict consumer protection rules, safer gambling practices, and robust financial safeguards, unlike illegal operators, who undermine player protections and pose significant risks to consumers."
With illegal betting on the Premier League on track to reach £1 billion per season, the BGC supports measures that protect fans, uphold standards, and ensure customer safety within the regulated market.
The organization warned that the regulated sector is under increasing pressure from higher taxes, with H2 Gambling Capital indicating that any further increase in the General Betting Duty would add strain to licensed operators. Independent analysis by WARC revealed that unregulated operators now represent nearly half of the UK's gambling advertising expenditure, while H2 Gambling Capital forecasts that the amount wagered with illegal operators in Britain could nearly double from nearly £17 billion this year to over £33 billion by 2028.
The regulated betting and gaming industry supports more than 109,000 jobs, contributes £6.8 billion to the UK economy, and generates over £4 billion in tax revenue annually, as per the BGC. The council emphasized that combating the criminal organizations behind illegal gambling websites should remain a priority to keep customers engaged within the regulated market, where consumer protections are firmly established.