Illegal Gambling Networks Targeting Self-Excluded Britons, Report Warns

^{Around 35% of payments on illegal gambling sites are already made in cryptocurrency, according to the report, with that share potentially reaching 70% by 2030. (Photo: Satheesh Sankaran)}

Illegal gambling operators are deliberately targeting British customers who have self-excluded from licensed betting sites, according to a new report from Fincord Intelligence highlighted by the Betting and Gaming Council on 7 September 2026.

The report estimates that the global illegal online gambling market generated around $50 billion in gross revenue in 2025, run through roughly 5,000 operator structures using more than 15,000 websites and apps. Mirror domains, VPN access and browser-based applications let blocked services return to the market within days of being taken down, the report found.

'Non-GamStop' Sites Named as a Growing Risk

Fincord's researchers singled out so-called 'Non-GamStop' casinos, which market themselves directly to people who have registered with GAMSTOP, the UK's national self-exclusion scheme, to avoid the identity checks, financial checks and betting limits required of licensed operators. The report said these sites reach customers through search engines, social media, affiliates, influencers, Telegram and WhatsApp.

Illegal sites also compete by offering fewer restrictions than the regulated market, including deposit bonuses of up to 300% to 500% of a customer's deposit, higher advertised returns and faster payouts, according to the report.

'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,' a Fincord Intelligence spokesperson said.

Crypto Payments Could Triple by 2030

The report found that cryptocurrency already accounts for around 35% of payments made on illegal gambling sites, a share Fincord said could exceed 70% by 2030. It also referenced Interpol's SOGA X operation during Euro 2024, which uncovered illegal betting networks linked to more than $5.1 billion in illicit proceeds across 28 countries.

Fincord separately noted that Ukrainian authorities have assessed that some gambling businesses connected to the Russian Federation may, directly or indirectly, help fund sanctions circumvention and pose wider national security risks to Ukraine, describing this as an analytical assessment rather than a judicial finding.

BGC Calls for Action Beyond Website Blocks

Commenting on the findings, Betting and Gaming Council chief executive Grainne Hurst said the report showed that 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,' Hurst said in a statement. '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.'

Fincord's report echoed that call, arguing that governments should focus enforcement on the payment services, cryptocurrency intermediaries, affiliates, advertisers, software suppliers and hosting infrastructure that keep illegal operators running, rather than relying solely on blocking individual sites. The BGC has separately raised concerns this year about the UK's black market for GAMSTOP-evading operators, including cases of legitimate websites being hijacked to promote unlicensed casinos.