UKGC to Release Comprehensive Study on the UK’s Black Market in 2025
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is set to publish its first detailed study of the illegal online gambling market in spring 2025. The research aims to provide insights into the scale of unlicensed gambling and inform the UKGC’s strategy to combat illegal operations.

Understanding the Scope of Illegal Gambling
The upcoming study by the UKGC seeks to uncover the motivations behind consumer engagement with unlicensed gambling websites.
By analyzing web traffic data and player behavior, the Commission intends to estimate the financial impact of illegal gambling, particularly in terms of gross gambling yield (GGY).
These insights will enable the UKGC to better monitor illegal activities, protect the licensed market, and safeguard consumers from potentially harmful practices.
How the UKGC is Measuring Black Market Impact
To assess the size of the black market, the UKGC is utilizing a combination of web traffic analytics and data on player spending.
The regulator has already collected data from over 139,000 gambling accounts across seven UK operators between 2018 and 2019.
This information has led the UKGC to estimate that unlicensed online slot machines generate approximately £0.32 per minute in GGY.
However, this estimate has its limitations, particularly for other forms of gambling such as sports betting, where spending patterns may vary significantly.
The UKGC is also tracking search terms that consumers use to find unlicensed gambling platforms.
Through tools like Google Trends and Similarweb, the Commission identifies queries that lead to illegal sites, and further analysis of web traffic from these sites offers insights into consumer behavior.
Comparing International Data and Challenges
The UKGC’s efforts mirror those of other European regulators, including the Netherlands and Sweden, where research has shown that consumers often spend more on unlicensed platforms than on regulated ones.
This trend is factored into the UKGC’s methodology, as it seeks to understand how spending habits on illegal sites compare to those on licensed platforms.
In discussing the study, the UKGC noted, “With a better understanding of why and how consumers access unlicensed gambling websites, we can identify ways in which we can use data to identify unlicensed websites and make estimates of their usage by GB consumers.”
This data-driven approach will allow the Commission to develop more targeted strategies for disrupting the black market.
CEO Andrew Rhodes stressed the dangers posed by the illegal market, both socially and economically.
“The illegal market is bad from a human point of view – as it poses a risk to consumers, especially the vulnerable. It is also unlikely to operate in a way that is fair or safe. It is also a concern from an economic point of view – as it pays no tax and undercuts legitimate business,” Rhodes stated.
He also emphasized the role that data analytics will play in addressing these issues.
Future Research into Social Media and Encrypted Messaging
Looking ahead, the UKGC plans to expand its research to explore how social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps are used to promote unlicensed gambling.
Apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitch, and Kick are increasingly being used to drive traffic to illegal operators, and the Commission is eager to understand the extent of this trend.
Over the past year, the UKGC has intensified its efforts to combat illegal online gambling, issuing more than 750 cease-and-desist orders and removing 50,000 URLs from search engine results.
The findings from the upcoming study will shape the next phase of the UKGC’s strategy to combat illegal gambling and protect consumers.