Illegal bookmakers could take £500m in jump racing bets, BGC warns

Illegal bookmakers could take around £500m in bets during Britain’s 2026–27 National Hunt season, according to the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). The trade body expects £10m to be staked with illegal operators at this weekend’s Cheltenham November Meeting, with the King George VI Chase, Cheltenham Festival and Grand National still to come.

The BGC issued the warning ahead of Safer Gambling Week, which runs from 16 to 22 November. It gave no breakdown of how it calculated either estimate. The £500m figure refers to the amount wagered over the season, before any winnings are paid out.

“Illegal operators contribute nothing to British racing, pay no UK tax and offer none of the vital protections customers expect from licensed bookmakers”. – Grainne Hurst, BGC chief executive

The trade body said its members contribute more than £350m a year to British racing. Licensed operators must also meet requirements on age verification, anti-money laundering and safer gambling.

Unlicensed betting sites gain ground

Research from the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) found that unlicensed betting sites attracted 19.4 visits for every 100 visits to licensed sites in the first seven months of 2026. In late 2021, the ratio was about one visit per 100. Across 32 unlicensed sites taking bets on British racing, the ratio rose almost sevenfold over the period. The research tracks website visits, so it gives an indication of audience growth without showing how much visitors wagered.

The Gambling Commission has issued more than 3,100 cease-and-desist or disruption notices since April 2024, but the IFHA found no sustained decline in traffic to illegal sites. British Horseracing Authority chief executive Brant Dunshea said customers who move to unlicensed operators face greater risks and fewer consumer protections.

Racing retains its 15% remote betting duty rate

The BGC also cited WARC analysis estimating that unregulated operators account for almost half of UK gambling advertising spend. It pointed to forecasts from H2 Gambling Capital that illegal stakes across the wider UK gambling market could rise from £17bn in 2026 to more than £33bn by 2028.

The warning comes ahead of a change to UK betting taxes. A new 25% rate for most remote betting is due to take effect in April 2027, while remote bets on UK horse racing will continue to be taxed at 15%. Remote gaming duty rose from 21% to 40% in April 2026 under a separate change.