BGC predicts nearly £10m to be staked on Grand National via black market
UK trade body suggests the showpiece race should “serve as a wake-up call” to the government regarding “overbearing” regulations which are driving players to illegal operators
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has forecast that £9.4m will be staked on this year’s Grand National through black market operators.
Research conducted by the trade body has estimated that in addition to the money going to the black market, around £250m will be staked on the event as a whole.
In turn, the BGC’s figures suggest that almost 4% of all stakes on the Aintree showpiece will be placed via unlicensed and illegal channels.
The Grand National is also expected to generate £3m in tax revenue for the Treasury, in addition to £2m in contributions to the horseracing levy via licensed businesses.
Data released by Entain this week showed that last year’s Grand National amassed 700% more bets with the operator compared to the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Additionally, the London-listed operator said around 30% of Grand National bettors had either made their first sports bet, deposited for the first time or their only bet throughout the year was on the Grand National.
BGC CEO Grainne Hurst said: “Almost £10m is predicted to be staked illegally on the unsafe, growing gambling black market at this year’s Grand National, fuelling crime, undermining player protection measures, while sucking vital cash from sport and the Treasury.
“The Grand National is one of the precious few sporting events in this country with the ability to unite the entire nation around a single spectacle.
“It is the nation’s punt, and it is being subverted by illegal operators offering illicit gambling to thousands of punters, many of whom are vulnerable to harm.”
Hurst added that the government shouldn’t turn a blind eye to the sums expected to go to illegal sources this weekend.
She continued: “This should serve as a wake-up call for government who must guard against overbearing regulations which risk driving punters into the arms of illegal operators.
“Balanced regulations and a stable tax regime are the best defences against this black market menace, which now poses an existential threat to British racing.”
A BGC report released in September 2024 estimated that 1.5 million British customers are staking up to £4.3bn on the black market each year.
The report showed a fifth of 18- to 24-year-olds who bet do so through the black market, both online and via messaging apps.
Similar research compiled by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) back in November suggested the UK’s online black market could be worth £1.5bn per year.