UKGC Launches New Illegal Gambling Index

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has launched a new Illegal Gambling Index to monitor how consumers interact with unlicensed gambling websites in the UK and provide a benchmark for assessing changes in the market over time.

Figures covering April 2025 to April 2026 indicate that 0.6% of survey participants had accessed illegal gambling websites within the previous four weeks. A further 0.4% said they had used such websites during the past 12 months, but not in the most recent four-week period. Among online gamblers, annual engagement reached 4% for men aged 18–24.

Developed in collaboration with Yonder Consulting, the index combines seven self-reported behavioural indicators. Rather than asking participants directly whether they had visited illegal gambling websites, it uses these indicators to assess their activity.

The Commission plans to evaluate future survey results alongside website traffic data and other intelligence to monitor developments in the illegal market.

Additional questions scheduled for introduction in 2027 will also support the tracking of four previously identified gambling consumer groups: Self-Excluders, Skilled Advocates, Social Explorers and Accidental Tourists.

Alongside the index, the UKGC has introduced a separate dashboard examining the illegal gambling market through three areas: supply, consumer activity and enforcement.