BGC Warns of £200M Illegal World Cup Betting Surge

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has raised concerns that illegal gambling operators could take approximately £200 million in bets during this summer’s FIFA World Cup, as wagering activity increases around one of football’s biggest global events.

The industry body estimates that more than £1 billion will be wagered through licensed betting operators in the UK throughout the tournament. At the same time, it believes a substantial amount of betting could be directed toward unregulated platforms operating outside British regulatory oversight.

According to the BGC, illegal operators do not offer the same consumer safeguards required of licensed companies, including identity verification procedures, anti-money laundering measures and responsible gambling protections.

The organisation also expressed concerns about the potential impact of proposed financial risk assessments. Based on its analysis, the BGC claims that if the checks are introduced in line with current pilot schemes, betting activity on black-market platforms during the World Cup could increase by an additional £50 million, pushing total illegal gambling stakes to around £250 million.

The same modelling suggests that more than 400,000 bettors could undergo financial risk checks during the tournament, with over 50,000 potentially choosing to move their betting activity to unlicensed operators.

The BGC also referenced separate industry research. Data from WARC reportedly shows that nearly half of all gambling advertising expenditure in the UK comes from unregulated operators. Meanwhile, figures from H2 Gambling Capital forecast that annual wagers placed with illegal gambling providers could grow from £17 billion in 2025 to more than £33 billion by 2028.

The council stressed that combating illegal gambling should remain a key priority, arguing that consumers are better protected when using regulated operators subject to UK rules and oversight.

The BGC noted that the licensed betting and gaming sector supports more than 109,000 jobs across the UK, contributes £6.8 billion to the economy and generates around £4 billion in tax revenue each year.

BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst said that while millions of football fans will place bets safely through regulated operators during the World Cup, illegal gambling websites are also expected to target customers throughout the tournament. She added that policies which weaken the competitiveness of licensed operators could inadvertently benefit the black market, emphasizing that the focus should remain on keeping consumers within the regulated sector where protections are in place.