BGC LAUNCHES NEW INTERACTIVE GAME TO EXPOSE THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF BLACK MARKET GAMBLING

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has today launched an innovative new online game designed to help consumers spot the warning signs of unsafe, unregulated gambling websites.

Titled ‘Spot The Black Market’, the interactive quiz challenges players to identify which gambling sites are legitimate and which are black market operators. The game highlights how illegal platforms often mimic the appearance and features of licensed sites, making them increasingly difficult for the public to recognise.

Black market operators make no contribution to the UK economy – they pay no tax and offer none of the vital protections that safeguard customers. In contrast, the regulated betting and gaming sector is a major economic contributor, adding £6.8 billion annually to the UK economy, generating £4 billion in taxes, and supporting 109,000 jobs nationwide. It also provides essential financial support to many of the country’s most popular sports.

The new game forms part of the BGC’s wider efforts to raise awareness of the risks posed by unregulated gambling and to highlight the value of the UK’s robust, highly regulated system, which is built on player safety, transparency, and integrity.

A BGC spokesperson said: “This campaign is about exposing the hidden dangers of the black market. These unregulated sites deliberately mimic trusted brands but play by none of the rules that keep people safe.

“Our new Spot The Black Market game shows just how easily consumers can be deceived, and reinforces the importance of choosing licensed, protected operators.”

Try the game for yourself here.