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According to a recent report carried out on behalf of Flutter UK & Ireland, illegal betting sites continue to be accessible and openly advertised, thus giving rise to a concern regarding how much of the market has been taken over. These entities continue to take hold in the UK despite the difficulty of law enforcement agencies in regulating their operations.
Sites With Weak Controls
The report, produced by fraud specialist Alex Wood, found that some offshore gambling websites failed even basic checks. In tests carried out ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, Wood created accounts using obviously false identities, including the names of racing figures Harry Skelton, Jack Kennedy, and trainer Willie Mullins. He also found that one site accepted an address listed as Cheltenham racecourse without challenge.
In another case, Wood registered under the name Red Rum and entered “racehorse” as an occupation with “horse heaven” as an address. A different platform even allowed him to sign up as a 6-year-old living at Buckingham Palace. The report said these failures show how offshore sites can attract users looking to bypass safeguards such as self-exclusion schemes.
Illegal Brands And Online Promotion
The report highlights brands including MyStake, Velobet, and Cosmobet. MyStake has recently drawn attention after announcing a partnership with soccer star Ronaldinho, although those claims were later discredited after evidence suggested the image used in the promotion may have been fabricated. In the report, the brand has been presented as one of the numerous instances of illegal sites managing to make themselves known.
According to Wood, the quantity of illegal and unlicensed gambling material available online is quite astonishing, and social media firms should be questioned about their practices. From the report, it is clear that these organizations are far from being secretive but are openly promoting themselves to such an extent that regular users do not notice when they enter the non-regulated segment.
Social Media And Payments
According to Wood, social media plays a major role in helping offshore operators find new customers. His Instagram feed quickly filled with posts leading users toward offshore bookmakers, often through tipsters and influencer accounts. Some of those links directed users into private messaging groups where betting advice and referral codes were being shared.
The report also said payment methods remain a weak point. Most websites operating outside UK regulation still accept common options such as bank cards and digital wallets, making it relatively easy for users to move from regulated betting to unregulated sites. That ease of access, the report warns, makes the black market harder to contain because the transition is almost seamless for the average customer.
Market Share And Policy Pressure
The wider impact is already showing in market figures. Illegal operators now account for roughly 9% of the UK gambling market, a level that represents a significant rise in recent years. The report says that trend could complicate the Treasury’s attempt to raise more revenue by increasing gambling taxes, since more activity outside the regulated system means less revenue captured through formal channels.
Regulated operators are now calling for closer cooperation between government, regulators, and technology companies, particularly on advertising and payment systems. The report suggests that without stronger coordination, the black market will continue to take advantage of gaps that legal operators are less able to exploit, leaving enforcement efforts chasing a market that keeps moving ahead of them.
Source: Gambling News
