THIRD OF PUNTERS WOULD SWITCH TO GAMBLING BLACK MARKET IF TAX HIKES WRECKED CUSTOMER OFFER, NEW POLL FINDS

ALMOST a third of punters would switch to the gambling black market if a tax hike forced legal operators to withdraw offers and promotions, a new survey found.

A new YouGov poll for standards body the Betting and Gaming Council found 28 per cent of regular punters would seek out illegal operators, which can offer better odds and promotions as they don’t have to pay tax, or support sport.

Each month 22.5m adults in Britain have a bet on the lottery, in bookmakers, casinos, bingo halls and online, and the overwhelming majority do so safely and responsibly.

The Treasury is consulting on major changes to the way betting and gaming is taxed online, sparking fears it will make sports betting more expensive, driving punters to the black market.

Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst said: “Punters are clear, get the balance on tax and regulation wrong and you hand a competitive advantage to the black market where operators pay no tax, contribute nothing to British sport, and offer no safer gambling protections.

“The gambling black market is growing and actively targeting UK customers. Any tax rise, whether on betting or gaming, makes that offer more attractive and puts more players at risk.

“Any tax hike would be catastrophic. This would put thousands of jobs and millions in investment at risk, while threatening the future of all sports that rely on regulated betting for funding – from racing and football to rugby league, darts and snooker.”

“Balanced regulations and a stable tax regime are the best defence against the black market.”

“This is a wake up call for Government, punters have been loud and clear, hit them with further taxes and they will walk away from the legal, regulated market, straight to the black market, triggering a spiral of decline which raises less tax, and undermines player protections.”

The survey found almost a third of punters would be "likely to use an unregulated gambling site” if it offered better promotions or odds. While 14 per cent admitted already using a black market site to place a bet.

Worryingly, it also revealed 29 per cent would not be confident spotting a black market site, versus a regulated operator.

A recent study commissioned by the BGC found 1.5m Brits stake up to £4.3bn on the growing gambling black market annually.

This growing, unsafe, illegal gambling black market does not contribute to sport, does not pay tax and targets customers who are vulnerable to harm, including the self-excluded.

Meanwhile, BGC members support 109,000 jobs, generate £6.8bn for the economy while raising £4bn in taxes.

They also help fund horseracing to the tune of £350m a year through sponsorship, media rights and the Levy, while contributing £40m for the English Football League and its clubs, plus millions more for rugby league, darts and snooker.

Each month in Britain around 22.5m adults have a bet and the most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4 per cent of the adult population are problem gamblers.