BGC Rejects Claims Linking Members to Illegal Gambling Sites

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has strongly rejected allegations that some of its members are supplying games to unlicensed gambling websites. They described the claims as inaccurate and highlighting the growing sophistication of black market operators.

The issue emerged during a House of Lords committee hearing on 17 June. A campaign group alleged that several game suppliers linked to the regulated gambling industry had content available on unlicensed websites.

The claims centred on two offshore gambling sites, Donbet and Mystake. However, the allegations have been firmly denied by the BGC and the suppliers involved.

BGC says suppliers are not providing games to the black market

Responding to the allegations, BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst said the organisation had contacted all members named in the report and received categorical assurances that they were not supplying illegal operators.

Instead, she suggested the claims may reflect a wider problem facing the industry: the cloning and unauthorised reproduction of legitimate casino games by criminal organisations.

According to Hurst, black market operators are increasingly capable of copying the appearance of licensed products, including branding, logos and gameplay features, creating the impression that legitimate suppliers are involved when they are not.

"We have spoken to all of the members involved who have categorically denied that they are supplying the black market." – Grainne Hurst

Hurst argued that the situation demonstrates how sophisticated illegal gambling networks have become, particularly when it comes to intellectual property theft and the replication of popular gaming content.

Cloned games remain a growing concern

The online gambling sector has long faced challenges from operators that copy or reverse-engineer successful casino titles.

In some cases, criminal operators can replicate game mechanics and visual designs while falsely displaying the branding of legitimate suppliers. This can make it difficult for consumers and campaign groups to determine whether a game has been officially supplied or unlawfully copied.

The BGC believes this type of activity is at the heart of the current allegations.

Hurst added that any supplier found to be knowingly providing content to illegal gambling operators would face severe consequences.

These could include losing BGC membership and potentially jeopardising their licence with the UK's gambling regulator.

Gambling Commission set to receive stronger enforcement powers

The controversy has also renewed attention on the powers available to the UK's gambling regulator.

Critics have questioned why some unlicensed gambling websites remain accessible to UK consumers. Currently, the UK's gambling framework does not give the Gambling Commission direct authority to block domains in the same way as some European regulators.

However, that position is expected to change.

Under forthcoming reforms, the Gambling Commission will be able to seek court orders requiring internet service providers to block specific illegal gambling websites. The move is intended to strengthen efforts against offshore operators targeting British customers.

The new powers form part of wider action against the gambling black market, which has become an increasingly prominent issue across the industry. Both regulators and licensed operators have warned that illegal websites pose significant risks because they operate outside UK consumer protection rules, safer gambling requirements and anti-money laundering controls.

As the UK continues to strengthen its approach to illegal gambling, the debate highlights the increasingly complex challenge of distinguishing between genuine supplier partnerships and sophisticated black market imitations.