UK illegal gambling sites linked to seven times higher problem gambling rate

Gamblers in Britain who use illegal, unlicensed websites are more than seven times as likely to suffer from problem gambling compared to those using licensed operators, according to UK Gambling Commission research.

Problem gambling severity scores

The regulator found that 45% of players on illegal gambling websites scored eight or higher on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), compared with just 6% of gamblers using licensed websites. A score of eight or above on the PGSI places an individual in the highest risk category, indicating problem gambling behavior.

The research also found that 17% of illegal gambling users had PGSI scores between three and seven, compared with 9% of licensed customers.

Research methodology

The findings stem from a UKGC research paper analyzing consumer banking transactions recorded between July 2018 and July 2026. To conduct the study, the UKGC analyzed 157.2 million banking transactions from approximately 38,000 individuals using financial tracking data provided by YouGov.

Researchers identified 3,426 transactions believed to involve illegal gambling operators, originating from 179 distinct individuals.

Causation not established

The UKGC said that its findings do not establish whether using illegal gambling websites causes greater gambling harm.

Among individuals with repeated transactions involving illegal operators, 91% also gambled with licensed companies. The UKGC said that it had found little evidence that customers stopped using regulated websites after beginning to gamble illegally.

The UKGC said the findings could not establish the size of Britain’s illegal gambling market.

In August, the Betting and Gaming Council warned that UK black market Premier League betting will hit £1 billion ($1.36 billion) by the 2027/28 season.