The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has voiced serious concerns regarding a dramatic increase in traffic to illegal online betting operators, particularly those targeting horseracing, with a new report indicating a nearly seven-fold growth in visits since late 2021. This alarming trend suggests that warnings from the racing industry about the unintended consequences of regulatory changes are being realized, driving bettors towards less protected black market platforms.
What Happened
A report from the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Council on Anti-Illegal Betting and Related Crime has highlighted a “worrying” growth in the UK’s black market gambling sector. Analyzing 301 websites (74 legal, 227 illegal), the report found that one in five betting visits are now directed to illegal sites, a stark contrast to late 2021 when the ratio was just one visit per 100 legal visits. Overall traffic to illegal platforms surged fourteen-fold between 2022 and 2025, from 1.8 million to over 25 million visits, while licensed sites saw a 34% drop in visits during the same period. Specifically concerning for the BHA, illegal sites taking bets on British horseracing experienced a traffic intensity of 6.8 visits per 100 legal visits in 2026, a significant jump from 0.97 in late 2021.
Key Details
- Illegal betting site traffic targeting British horseracing has grown nearly seven-fold, reaching 6.8 visits per 100 legal visits in 2026, up from 0.97 in late 2021.
- Overall, one in five online betting visits are now to illegal sites, a substantial increase from one per 100 legal visits in late 2021.
- Traffic to illegal platforms surged fourteen-fold (from 1.8 million to over 25 million visits) between 2022 and 2025, while licensed site visits dropped by 34%.
- BHA Chief Executive Brant Dunshea reiterated warnings that policy changes could inadvertently push customers to the illegal market.
- Dunshea criticized the “limited progress” of the UK’s Gambling Commission and Illegal Gambling Taskforce in tackling black market operators.
- The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) and Entain (owner of Ladbrokes Coral) have also actively campaigned against illegal gambling and black market sponsorships.
Why It Matters
This escalating trend of bettors migrating to the black market poses significant risks. Brant Dunshea, Chief Executive of the BHA, emphasized that customers using illegal operators face “greater risks and fewer consumer protections.” Furthermore, these unlicensed businesses contribute nothing to British racing, which relies on contributions from licensed betting, nor to public finances. The BHA’s consistent warnings during the Gambling Act Review about unintended consequences appear to be manifesting, highlighting a critical challenge for regulators and the industry. The perceived inaction or limited progress by bodies like the Gambling Commission and the Illegal Gambling Taskforce, as highlighted by Dunshea, raises questions about the effectiveness of current enforcement strategies in protecting both consumers and the integrity of British horseracing. The continued growth of the black market threatens the sustainability and ethical framework of the regulated gambling sector in the UK.