The UK gambling black market has experienced a significant increase in traffic to unlicensed horse racing betting websites, with a 522% surge in unique visitors. This trend has raised concerns over regulatory policies potentially driving users away from legal offerings, as regulated platforms are lagging behind in attracting customers. The impact of black market operators on vulnerable individuals, who can bypass self-exclusion schemes, has also been highlighted.

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) report suggests that recent UK gambling regulations, such as affordability checks, may be contributing to the rise in illegal platform activity. Industry representatives, including the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), are urging swift changes to the regulatory framework to address the growing prevalence of unlicensed operators. The financial implications of the black market, with online bets on British racing falling by £1.6 billion in the last two years, are also a cause for concern.

The BHA and BGC are calling on the UK government to reconsider its gambling reform policy, relax regulatory restrictions, and crack down on illegal operators to protect consumers and ensure market sustainability. The organizations emphasize the need for balanced regulations and a stable tax regime to combat the black market and prevent further growth in illegal gambling activity.