Illegal Premier League Betting Could Hit £1bn a Season, BGC Warns

Illegal betting on Premier League football could reach £1 billion a season as soon as next year, according to new gambling industry estimates.

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) says it expects as much as £800 million to be wagered with unlicensed operators during the newly started 2026/27 Premier League season. Their report estimating that around £20 million may have been staked on the opening weekend alone.

That figure could rise substantially again next season, with industry analysts forecasting around £1 billion in illegal Premier League bets during 2027/28.

£20m Could Be Bet Illegally Every Premier League Weekend

It’s no secret that the EPL is one of the largest betting markets in the world. What is more surprising is that according to the latest analysis, between £15 million and £20 million could be wagered through unlicensed operators - during a single, typical Premier League weekend.

Unlike UK-licensed bookmakers, offshore operators may operate without the consumer protections required by the UKGC. This includes providing safer gambling tools, managing customer funds according to protocols, and having proper channels for disputes. What’s more, these companies can also avoid paying UK gambling taxes.

BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst warned that the scale of the illegal market could continue to increase:

‘But the criminal black market is looking to cash in too, taking millions of pounds on every round of matches while offering customers none of the protections found in the regulated sector.

‘These operators pay no tax, fund nothing and answer to no one. Every pound they take is a pound lost to British sport and to the Treasury.

‘Licensed operators are regulated in Britain and follow strict rules on consumer protection, safer gambling and robust financial safeguards. Illegal black market operators do not. They undermine player protections, avoid taxes, ignore safer gambling standards and put consumers at serious risk.

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.’

Why Does the BGC Expect Illegal Betting to Increase?

The £1 billion projection comes amid substantial changes to Britain's regulated gambling industry. From April 2027, General Betting Duty is due to increase, adding to the tax burden already faced by licensed sportsbooks.

Analysis from H2 Gambling Capital suggests the wider British black market could almost double over the coming years. It estimates nearly £17 billion will be staked with illegal operators this year, rising to more than £33 billion by 2028.

The BGC has repeatedly argued that increasing the cost and regulatory burden of operating legally can make unlicensed alternatives more attractive to gamblers.

However, the organisation represents licensed betting and gaming businesses. That means it also has a clear interest in opposing any measures it believes make the regulated market less competitive.

Can the UK Stop the £1bn from Leaving the Regulated Market?

The BGC’s £1 billion forecast comes at a moment where both the gambling industry and government push for stronger action against unlicensed operators targeting British bettors.

While not yet in place, the government has moved to prevent Premier League clubs from accepting sponsorship from gambling operators that do not hold a UK licence. The BGC supports the proposal. But, it wants restrictions on unlicensed gambling sponsorship extended across British sport.

However, sponsorship is only one route through which illegal operators reach UK customers. Recent WARC analysis found unregulated operators now account for almost half of UK gambling advertising spend. This suggests their visibility could continue to grow even as licensed gambling becomes less prominent in Premier League football.

That leaves regulators with something of a balancing act. The government is attempting to reduce both gambling’s visibility in sport and access to illegal operators. The BGC argues that higher taxes and tighter restrictions on licensed bookmakers risk pushing more bettors towards the very black market it is trying to suppress.