The UK needs to rethink its strategy toward black market gambling, as independent studies indicate a substantial number of British players are turning to unlicensed sites, driven by unintended consequences of current regulations.
Deal Me Out (DMO), an organisation focused on gambling harm prevention and education, released a report this week exploring the scale of black-market gambling in the UK. The study aims to highlight the experiences of individuals who have used unlicensed platforms, offering insight into the underlying vulnerabilities and motivations that drive people toward these illicit sites.
As expected, the research revealed that those who use black market gambling sites frequently encounter deceptive practices and face significant risksโboth financially and emotionally. With 61% of those who participated in the survey saying they have had money stolen from them when trying to withdraw winnings.
DMO also states that of the participants who said they played on black market sites 67% of them had self-excluded themselves via Gamstop from licensed betting operators. These included individuals considered financially vulnerableโa group that has been a key focus of UK regulatory reforms in recent years.
Operators who act within the regulations such as BetWright have a keen focus on safer gambling practices which aim to help people gamble within their means and provide help to those who need it. These tools, such as deposit limits, often arenโt found on black market sites.
More than 70% of respondents in DMOโs research reported receiving daily marketing messages and VIP offersโvia email and textโfrom black market operators. Unlike the regulated sector, there were no opt-out mechanisms, leaving users unable to stop these communications.
However, the most striking finding relates to influencer involvement. DMO and Social Impact flagged growing concern over how online personalities are fueling black market activity. Their joint report revealed that 84% of the content creators examined were actively promoting unlicensed gambling platformsโwith one influencer alone attracting over a million views in just one month.
Creating a fair balance between licensed operators and unregulated platforms has long been a challenge for the UKGC and other regulatory bodiesโand it remains an ongoing issue. According to DMO, recent regulatory shifts may have inadvertently strengthened the appeal of the black market.
Recent regulatory changes such as banning certain features like autoplay, bonus buys and implementing new affordability checks for players have been described as โnanny statingโ in the report by punters who were turned towards black market sites because of the new regulations.
Black market sites bypass regulations set out by the UKGC both when it comes to their product and when it comes to safeguarding. This enables punters to gamble beyond their means and leaves them vulnerable to underhanded and exploitative tactics, putting them at risk.
Whilst these new regulations were intended to protect potentially vulnerable punters from gambling beyond their means, this study seems to show that they have instead driven more people to play in unregulated spaces, making these people more at risk than before. Finding a fair balance between licensed operators and unregulated platforms has been a challenge for years, but current regulations seem to have tipped the balance in one direction.
Please play responsibly. For more information and advice visitย https://www.begambleaware.org
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