The Betting and Gaming Council has issued a stark warning that black market Premier League betting is rapidly approaching the £1 billion threshold.
The BGC claims that £800 million worth of Premier League bets will be placed with unlicensed operators during the current 2026/27 season alone.
Approximately £20 million is estimated to have been staked with illegal operators over the opening weekend of the new Premier League campaign.
That figure is forecast to climb by a further £200 million next season, pushing illegal Premier League betting to roughly £1 billion annually.
The BGC has pointed to April’s planned increase in General Betting Duty as a key driver behind the projected rise in black market activity.
A recent hike in remote gaming duty from 21% to 40%, combined with a proposed rise in general betting duty from 15% to 25%, has raised serious concerns about punters migrating to unlicensed platforms.
The proposed implementation of Financial Risk Assessments by the UK Gambling Commission has also drawn criticism from the BGC and other industry stakeholders who believe it will push more bettors toward unregulated alternatives.
BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst said criminal operators already take millions from each round of matches, paying no UK tax and operating entirely outside licensing, consumer-protection, and safer-gambling rules.
Hurst added: “With illegal betting on the Premier League on course to reach £1bn a season, we support action that protects fans, upholds standards and keeps customers safe within the regulated market.”
The warning arrives as the Premier League enters its first season without gambling brands featured on front-of-shirt sponsorships, following a voluntary ban agreed by clubs in 2023.
The restriction, which took effect from the 2026/27 campaign, does not extend to sleeve or training kit sponsorships, leaving some commercial pathways still open to gambling operators.
Ministers are also reportedly weighing a broader ban on unlicensed gambling companies sponsoring British sport, citing concerns over visibility of brands unavailable to UK customers.
The Gambling Commission has identified several routes through which customers access illegal gambling sites, including seeking better offers, avoiding identity checks, or searching for alternatives after self-excluding through Gamstop.
The black market threat is not limited to football, with illegal operators positioning themselves to attract vulnerable customers across multiple sports and betting markets.
