The illegal betting black market could swallow £1bn in unlicensed Premier League wagers within a single season, according to new analysis released ahead of this weekend’s return.
The Premier League resumes this weekend with all 20 clubs having voluntarily banned gambling and casino brands from the prized front-of-shirt sponsorship positions on their kits.
Gambling brands have not been fully removed from football, with many operators shifting their logos to sleeves and training kits, though not all of those brands are regulated within the UK.
Industry figures fear that gambling duty hikes introduced by former Chancellor Rachel Reeves could push fans toward the unregulated black market, drawn in by attractive promotional material from illegal operators.
Those illegal platforms often fail to honour winnings, with wagers frequently left unsecured and promised funds not always returned to customers who bet through them.
Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “Millions of football fans will enjoy a bet safely with regulated operators this season, backing their team week in, week out.”
Hurst warned that criminal operators were actively exploiting the football calendar, adding: “But the criminal black market is looking to cash in too, taking millions of pounds on every round of matches while offering customers none of the protections found in the regulated sector.”
She was unequivocal about the wider damage caused by illegal operators, stating: “These operators pay no tax, fund nothing and answer to no one. Every pound they take is a pound lost to British sport and to the Treasury.”
On the front-of-shirt side, gambling brands have largely been replaced by technology, web and financial companies, with Aston Villa partnering Visit Rwanda and Newcastle United signing Knox Hydration.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has drawn criticism from within the betting industry after appearing to link “betting shops” and “dodgy businesses” in the same post on X while discussing a crackdown on rogue operators.
One industry source told City AM: “If the PM really wanted to tackle dodgy business he’d go all out to tackle illegal operators. They’re linked to organised crime, they hit the jackpot with Labour’s tax hikes and they’re growing like crazy.”
Hurst added: “Licensed operators are regulated in Britain and follow strict rules on consumer protection, safer gambling and robust financial safeguards. Illegal black market operators do not.”
She concluded by calling for coordinated action, stating: “With illegal betting on the Premier League on course to reach £1bn a season, we support action that protects fans, upholds standards and keeps customers safe within the regulated market.”
Gambling duty is set to rise from April, a move that has prompted widespread concern across several sports about the financial sustainability of their relationships with licensed betting operators.