Illegal gambling networks exploit vulnerable Britons as new report exposes $50bn global black market

Report estimates the global illegal online gambling market generated around US$50bn in gross revenue in 2025

Illegal gambling operators are deliberately targeting British customers who have self-excluded or want to avoid the protections required in the regulated market, according to a new report from Fincord Intelligence.

The report highlights “Non-GamStop” casinos promoted to people excluded through GAMSTOP, alongside sites offering no identity checks, financial checks or betting limits. Customers are reached through search engines, social media, affiliates, influencers, Telegram and WhatsApp.

Fincord estimates that illegal online gambling generated around US$50bn in gross revenue globally in 2025. Around 5,000 operator structures used more than 15,000 websites and apps, with mirror domains, VPN access and browser-based applications allowing blocked services to return rapidly.

The report notes that Ukrainian authorities assessed that some gambling businesses associated with the Russian Federation may contribute, directly or indirectly, to Russia’s economic interests, facilitate sanctions circumvention and create wider national security risks for Ukraine. The report presents these as analytical assessments rather than judicial findings.

The report says governments must target the payment services, cryptocurrency intermediaries, affiliates, advertisers, software suppliers and hosting infrastructure supporting illegal operators – not just individual websites.

A spokesperson for Fincord Intelligence said: “Illegal gambling is no longer a collection of isolated websites. It operates through sophisticated international networks of companies, payment providers, cryptocurrency services, technology platforms and affiliates.

“In Britain, these networks target customers – including people who have self-excluded – through social media, messaging platforms and mirror sites. The Ukraine case demonstrates how the same type of interconnected infrastructure can also create wider financial crime and national security risks.

“Governments must target the infrastructure that allows these illegal ecosystems to survive, rather than relying solely on blocking individual websites.”

Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “This report shows illegal gambling is no longer simply a regulatory issue. Illegal operators are deliberately targeting vulnerable customers in the UK, including people who have self-excluded, using social media, affiliates and messaging platforms to avoid the protections of the regulated market.

“The Government must step up its efforts to coordinate law enforcement, regulators, payment providers and technology companies to target the networks supporting these operators – not just individual websites.”

The report also found that illegal sites compete through fewer restrictions, including bonuses of up to 300–500 per cent of deposits, higher advertised returns and faster payouts than are generally available in the regulated market.

Interpol’s SOGA X operation during Euro 2024 uncovered networks linked to more than US$5.1 billion in illicit proceeds and related transactions across 28 countries.

Around 35 per cent of payments in the illegal sector are already made using cryptocurrency, a proportion the report says could exceed 70 per cent by 2030.