Up to £100m bet illegally during Grand National weekend, UK’s BGC says
The BGC says up to £40m may have been bet on the main event with unlicensed operators.
UK.- The British industry lobby group the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has claimed that up to £100m was potentially bet with illegal operators during Aintree Festival last weekend. That includes up to £40m on the headline Grand National event, it says, although it didn’t detail how those figures were calculated.
The Grand National is one of the biggest betting events in the UK sporting calendar, attracting billions of pounds in wagers each year. The BGC stressed the threat posed by illegal gambling operators, which it says target major events while offering none of the protections required of regulated firms.
The BGC warned that the possible rollout of financial risk checks could risk driving more bettors towards the unregulated market. The British Horseracing Authority has also expressed its opposition to the Gambling Commission’s proposed checks.
Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “The Grand National is one of the biggest moments in the sporting calendar, enjoyed safely by millions. But the criminal harmful black market will also have tried to cash in, targeting punters with illegal betting that offers zero protections.
“Rising costs and increasingly intrusive checks will only make it harder for legitimate operators to compete. The priority must be keeping punters in the regulated market, where safeguards are in place, rather than driving them towards dangerous illegal operators.
”Licensed betting firms in Britain must meet strict standards, including age verification, anti-money laundering checks and safer gambling protections. By contrast, black market operators act outside the law and offer no safeguards to customers.
The BGC said tackling the criminal gangs behind illegal gambling sites must remain a priority to protect and support the regulated sector.
