Report says UK illegal gambling market has surged since 2019
Britain’s illegal online gambling market has expanded sharply over the past six years, according to new figures pointing to a major increase in betting activity with unlicensed operators.
A study released by H2 Gambling Capital estimated that offshore betting turnover reached £16.6 billion ($A32 billion) in 2025, up from roughly £5 billion ($A9.4 billion) in 2019, with the steepest growth occurring over the past two years.
The research said licensed companies continue to control most of the UK gambling industry, although the proportion of betting taking place within the regulated market declined from 97 per cent in 2019 to 92 per cent this year.
H2 Gambling Capital also reported that offshore operators generated an estimated £685 million ($A1.3 billion) in gambling yield in 2025, up from about £200 million ($375 million) six years ago, underscoring the growing financial weight of the unregulated sector.
The report comes amid broader concerns about illegal gambling activity, following separate findings that black market bookmakers are expected to sharply increase advertising spending in the UK, and that mainstream AI chatbots have been used to direct bettors toward unlicensed sites.
