Illegal Betting Traffic in Britain Rises Despite Crackdowns

According to the research, monthly visits to unlicensed betting sites used by consumers in Britain rose from 1.8 million unique visits in 2022 to more than 25 million in 2025.

The report examined more than 300 betting sites, covering 74 licensed operators and 227 illegal or unlicensed sites. In the first seven months of 2026, there were 19.4 visits to illegal platforms for every 100 visits to licensed sites. That means nearly one in every five visits goes to an unlicensed site.

Engagement on these sites has also increased. Between October 2024 and July 2026, average visit duration rose 32 percent, from 5 minutes 38 seconds to 7 minutes 25 seconds. Pages viewed per visit rose 34 percent, from 5.19 to 6.98.

The Gambling Commission has published more than 3,100 suspension or disruption notices since April 2024 and has secured the removal of around 288,000 URLs. According to the report, traffic to illegal betting sites remains well above 2021 levels.

The researchers argue that a broader, coordinated response is needed, involving government, the industry, payment providers and technology companies. According to the report, success should be measured not by the number of enforcement actions or blocked sites, but by a long-term decline in illegal betting traffic. British Horseracing Authority (BHA) chair Brant Dunshea said warnings about the unintended consequences of betting reforms are now coming true.