The UK’s illegal gambling market has expanded significantly in recent years according to new research highlighted by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), with offshore betting stakes reportedly reaching £16.6bn in 2025. The figures have intensified industry discussions regarding consumer protection, regulatory policy and the long-term competitiveness of the licensed betting and gaming sector in the United Kingdom....
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Editor’s Choice 1, Taxation
April 3, 2026
UK Gambling Tax Increase: Impact and Market Risks
On 1 April 2026, the UK government made one of the most aggressive fiscal moves we have seen in a regulated gambling market. Remote Gaming Duty jumped from 21% to...
iGaming News, Taxation
April 1, 2026
UKGC Response to Remote Gaming Duty and Black Market Risks
The UK Gambling Commission has formally addressed growing industry concerns surrounding potential increases to Remote Gaming Duty, often referred to as RGD, while reinforcing the limits of its institutional role....
iGaming News, Laws
March 25, 2026
DOCV disputes GGL data on size of Germany’s online black market
The debate surrounding the size and influence of Germany’s online gambling black market has intensified following fresh criticism from the Deutscher Online Casinoverband. The association, commonly known as DOCV, has...
iGaming News, Laws
March 4, 2026
BGC launches Black Market iGaming awareness game in UK
The Betting and Gaming Council has introduced a new interactive online initiative designed to inform consumers about the risks associated with unregulated gambling websites. The campaign centres on a digital...
iGaming News, Taxation
February 27, 2026
BGC raises alarm over tax plans and rise of illegal betting sites
The Betting and Gaming Council has issued a formal warning that proposed tax increases on the regulated gambling sector in the United Kingdom risk accelerating the growth of unlicensed operators...
iGaming News, Laws
February 4, 2026
Greece introduces criminal penalties to tackle illegal gambling
The Greek government is preparing a major legislative reform to combat illegal gambling, marking a decisive step toward addressing a growing issue that threatens public revenue and exposes citizens to...
iGaming News, Laws
February 2, 2026
Gambling advertising drops in UK while black market rises
In 2025, advertising expenditure by licensed gambling operators in the United Kingdom continued to decline, reinforcing a trend that has been in place since 2021. The decrease in promotional activity...
iGaming News, Laws, Taxation
January 20, 2026
Betting and Gaming Council warns tax rises may boost black market
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) chief executive Grainne Hurst has publicly welcomed a recent debate in the United Kingdom Parliament regarding the government’s plan to increase taxes on online...
iGaming News, Laws
January 13, 2026
Czech Republic faces rising losses from unlicensed gambling
A newly published analytical report has renewed debate over the scale and impact of unlicensed gambling in the Czech Republic, warning that the state may be losing billions of koruna...
iGaming News, Laws
December 29, 2025
Boxing Day gambling sees £100 million black market stakes in UK
On December 26, commonly known as Boxing Day in the United Kingdom, gambling activity surged dramatically as thousands of bettors engaged with a variety of sports events. The Betting and...
iGaming News, Taxation
December 8, 2025
BGC says new UK tax could boost black market gambling
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), the leading trade body representing licensed operators in the United Kingdom, has issued a strong warning regarding the Government’s recently announced betting and gaming...
iGaming News, Laws
November 17, 2025
Sweden bonus ban could favor gambling monopolies
The ongoing debate in Sweden regarding a potential blanket ban on iGaming bonuses has generated significant attention across the country’s regulated gambling landscape. This discussion intensified after Svenska Spel and...
iGaming News, Laws
November 10, 2025
PwC report warns higher gambling taxes fuel black market
A recent study by PwC, commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), has shed light on how increased gambling taxes and tighter regulations across Europe have affected market growth,...
iGaming News, Taxation
October 27, 2025
EY report warns of major UK losses from gambling tax rise
A new economic analysis conducted by Ernst & Young (EY) has projected that the United Kingdom’s proposed gambling tax reforms could lead to a multi-billion-pound reduction in economic activity and...
iGaming News, Laws
September 22, 2025
Dutch portal exposes illegal online gambling trends
The Dutch reporting portal for illegal online gambling, Meld Vals Spel, has released a detailed overview of the activity it has tracked since its launch in November 2024. The platform...
iGaming News, Laws
September 18, 2025
BGC campaign warns of black market gambling risks
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the dangers posed by unregulated gambling websites. The campaign comes at a time when policymakers,...
iGaming News, Taxation
September 17, 2025
Dutch Lottery warns gambling tax rise risks black market shift
The Nederlandse Loterij, the state-owned gambling operator in the Netherlands, has voiced strong concerns over the government’s plan to further increase gambling taxes in the coming year. Arjan Blok, the...
iGaming News, Laws
August 19, 2025
Paddy Power co-founder challenges gambling tax warnings
The co-founder of Paddy Power, Stewart Kenny, has publicly challenged warnings from gambling industry leaders suggesting that proposed tax increases could push punters towards illegal gambling. Kenny, who stepped down...
iGaming News, Taxation
August 12, 2025
Gambling tax hike could impact UK betting sector
The landscape of UK gambling taxation is currently engulfed in heated debate as government proposals seek to overhaul the tax regime on various online gambling verticals. At the heart of...
iGaming News, Laws
July 14, 2025
Has Sweden’s Gambling Reform Been a Cautionary Tale?
Most observers of Sweden's recent gambling reforms—implemented in 2019—consider them a bold attempt to regulate the online gambling landscape and protect consumers. However, as the effects of these policy changes...
iGaming News, Laws
July 10, 2025
European Gambling CEOs Urge Smarter Regulation
In an unprecedented show of unity, the chief executives of some of Europe’s most prominent gambling operators have issued a collective call for what they describe as “smarter, more balanced”...
iGaming News, Laws
July 1, 2025
GGL says illegal gambling still dominates online market
Germany’s central gambling authority, the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), has published its 2024 annual report, providing a comprehensive overview of key trends and regulatory activities across both the licensed...
iGaming News, Laws
June 27, 2025
Are Black Market Casinos Beating National Rules?
Many people are unaware that black market casinos are emerging as a significant challenge to national regulations governing gambling. These unregulated establishments operate outside the bounds of legal frameworks, often...
iGaming News, Laws
June 4, 2025
Navigating the Complex Global iGaming Regulations
Many stakeholders in the online gaming industry grapple with a complex landscape of regulations that often seem contradictory and burdensome. As the iGaming sector expands, jurisdictions around the world are...
iGaming News, Laws
May 15, 2025
AOJND and FEDBET support ONJN in gambling crackdown
In a step towards reinforcing regulatory control and ensuring player safety, Romania’s two most prominent gambling industry associations—the Association of Remote Gambling Operators (AOJND) and the Federation of Gambling Organizers...
Business News, iGaming News
April 15, 2025
Tipico names Games Global a Trusted Partner in Germany
In a notable step toward enhancing transparency and promoting legal compliance in the German online gambling space, Tipico, one of Germany's most prominent sports betting and iGaming operators, has officially...