Illegal gambling websites are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Many are designed to look almost identical to licensed UK operators. They copy branding, mirror website layouts and promote generous bonuses, making it difficult for consumers to tell the difference.

To help people understand the warning signs, the Betting and Gaming Council has created an interactive quiz called Spot the Black Market.

This short game challenges players to identify which gambling websites are legitimate and which are illegal black market operators. It demonstrates how easily unsafe sites can mimic trusted brands and highlights the key differences between regulated and unregulated platforms.

Test your knowledge and see how easily you can spot the difference below.

Black market operators do not follow UK rules designed to protect consumers.

They:

• Pay no UK tax

• Provide none of the regulated safer gambling tools required of licensed operators

• Are not subject to robust age verification standards

• Offer no reliable routes for dispute resolution

• Operate without meaningful regulatory oversight

If something goes wrong, there is no accountability and no guaranteed protection.

By contrast, the regulated betting and gaming sector in the UK operates within one of the most robust regulatory systems in the world. Licensed operators:

• Contribute £6.8 billion annually to the UK economy

• Generate £4 billion in tax revenue

• Support 109,000 jobs nationwide

• Provide vital funding to many of the country’s most popular sports

• Are required to meet strict standards on consumer protection, transparency and safer gambling

Understanding the difference between licensed operators and illegal sites is critical to keeping consumers safe.