Table of Contents
Conducted by Yonder Consulting, the study concluded that illegal online gambling remains “clandestine,” with its exact size frequently changing and largely remaining hidden. Participation rates are affected by a wide range of consumer behaviours, making precise measurement difficult.
Three Measurement Approaches Evaluated
The final report examined three distinct methodologies for estimating black market prevalence in the UK gambling sector.
The dwell-time approach analyses average engagement and time-spent-on-site data. However, the Commission recognised that this method relies heavily on assumptions, with each additional assumption introducing further margins for error.
The channelisation approach compares engagement rates between legal and illegal markets. This methodology also requires multiple assumptions, creating similar accuracy concerns.
The third approach uses survey-based data to gather information directly from consumers. The regulator noted that this method can lead to misrepresented assumptions about actual black market participation.
Complete Series Overview
The comprehensive study began with part one, published on 18 September, which profiled typical black market participants. Without treating these characteristics as representative of all online gamblers, the research identified four common traits among users engaging with illegal gambling platforms.
These participants are typically male, aged between 18 and 24, active gamblers, and generally score eight or above on the Problem Gambling Severity Index.
Part two measured consumer engagement rates with the online black market. Between May 2024 and July 2025, the Commission identified 1,000 unique black market websites but stated there was “no overall increase in engagement in Great Britain.”
The third report detailed three primary tactics the gambling authority employs against illegal operators: Regulation and Investigation, Technological Advances, and Marketing Strategy.
Regulation and Investigation includes legal enforcement measures, cross-border collaboration with international institutions, tracking and blocking illegal websites, and blocking payments to unlicensed operators.
Technological Advances focuses on disrupting tools used by black market operators to avoid detection, including indexing manipulation, VPN usage, AI-powered evasion techniques, and URL concealment.
The Marketing Strategy component addresses consumer awareness and education about the risks of engaging with unlicensed platforms.
The research series represents a significant effort by the UK Gambling Commission to understand and combat illegal gambling operations targeting British consumers, despite the inherent difficulties in measuring this activity.
Source: SBC News
