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Millions to be staked illegally on Grand National3 April 2025(PRESS RELEASE) -- Almost £10 million could be staked with the growing, illegal gambling black market on Saturday’s Grand National, according to new analysis by standards body the Betting and Gaming Council. The BGC, which represents over 90% of the U.K. regulated betting and gaming sector including online, casinos and betting shops, predicts £9.4 million will be staked with black market operators on the Aintree showpiece. Each year around 600 million people across 140 countries tune in to watch the Grand National, with an estimated 13 million adults in the U.K. having a flutter on the outcome. According to industry research conducted by the BGC, approximately £250 million will be staked on the main event. Meanwhile, the Grand National is expected to generate £3 million in tax revenues for the Treasury and £2m in contributions to the horseracing levy to support the sport. However, the event is being “subverted” by illegal operators, say the BGC. Grainne Hurst, Betting and Gaming Council CEO, said: “Almost £10m is predicted to be staked illegally on the unsafe, growing gambling black market at this year’s Grand National, fueling crime, undermining player protection measures, while sucking vital cash from sport and the Treasury. “The Grand National is one of the precious few sporting events in this country with the ability to unite the entire nation around a single spectacle. It is the nation’s punt, and it is being subverted by illegal operators offering illicit gambling to thousands of punters, many of whom are vulnerable to harm. “This should serve as a wake-up call for Government who must guard against overbearing regulations which risk driving punters into the arms of illegal operators. Balanced regulations and a stable tax regime are the best defenses against this black market menace, which now poses an existential threat to British racing.” Last year the BGC released a study which found 1.5 million Brits stake up to £4.3 billion on the growing, unsafe gambling black market each year, with illegal operators aggressively targeting customers, significantly undermining player protections, while sucking millions from sport and the Treasury. According to the research more than one in five 18-24 year olds who bet already use the unsafe, unregulated gambling black market online, and via secure online messaging apps. Meanwhile, outfits based overseas aggressively target customers who have self-excluded from regulated betting operators. Researchers found the vast sums bet on the gambling black market online and offline could deprive the Treasury of up to £335m over the course of a five-year Parliament, if action is not taken. Meanwhile, in February the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities released a new study on the scale of illegal gambling on racing. It found the number of unique customers visiting 22 unlicensed sites taking bets on British racing had grown by 522% between August 2021 and September 2024. By contrast, unique visitor traffic to ten legal websites offering betting on horseracing had grown by 49% over the same period. Total visitor traffic from the UK to the unlicensed betting websites had grown by 131% since August 2021, compared to 25% to legal bookmakers. The BGC has been clear, balanced regulations and stable taxation is the best defense against the black market. Each month in Britain around 22.5 million adults have a bet and the most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers. BGC members support 109,000 jobs, generate £6.8bn for the economy while raising £4 billion in taxes. They also help fund horseracing to the tune of £350 million a year through sponsorship, media rights and the levy, provide £40 million for the English Football League and its clubs and millions more for rugby league, darts and snooker.
Millions to be staked illegally on Grand National
is republished from iGamingNews.com.
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