BLACK MARKET CASHES IN ON GRAND NATIONAL AS CRIMINAL BOOKIES TARGET MILLIONS

The harmful gambling black market cashed in during last weekend’s Grand National, with up to £100m potentially staked with illegal operators across the Aintree Festival, including as much as £40m on the big race alone, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has warned.

The Grand National is one of the biggest betting events in the sporting calendar, attracting millions of punters and billions in wagers each year.

But these figures underline the growing threat posed by illegal gambling operators, who target major events while offering none of the protections required of regulated firms.

The BGC warned that rising costs on licensed operators, alongside the threat of increasingly intrusive checks requiring customers to hand over personal financial details, risk driving more punters towards the unsafe, unregulated market.

Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “The Grand National is one of the biggest moments in the sporting calendar, enjoyed safely by millions.

“But the criminal harmful black market will also have tried to cash in, targeting punters with illegal betting that offers zero protections.

"Rising costs and increasingly intrusive checks will only make it harder for legitimate operators to compete.

"The priority must be keeping punters in the regulated market, where safeguards are in place, rather than driving them towards dangerous illegal operators.

”Licensed betting firms in Britain must meet strict standards, including age verification, anti-money laundering checks and safer gambling protections. By contrast, black market operators act outside the law and offer no safeguards to customers.

The regulated betting and gaming sector supports over 109,000 jobs, contributes £6.8bn to the UK economy and raises £4bn in tax each year, while also providing vital funding for British horseracing.

The BGC said tackling the criminal gangs behind illegal gambling sites must remain a priority to protect punters and support the regulated sector.