Gamblers visiting black market online gambling sites tripled during the World Cup

The number of gamblers visiting black market online gambling sites tripled during the World Cup, research shows.

A total of 250,000 used unregulated foreign firms during the tournament – up from 80,000 in the same period in 2021.

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The betting industry says it takes less than 30 seconds to log into a black market site, compared to 12 minutes for a regulated UK operator.

It comes as ministers prepare to release a gambling white paper.

Michael Dugher, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council, said players face an “imminent threat” from “the growing insecure, unregulated black market”.

He said the regulated industry worked hard to protect young people during the World Cup by adhering to strict regulations while black market operators “exploited the vulnerable”.

He added: “While the regulated industry went to great lengths to protect young people during the World Cup and adhere to strict regulations and promote safer gambling, black market operators preyed on the vulnerable.

“These unlicensed websites do not provide any of the safer gambling tools promoted by our members, they pay no taxes or employ anyone, they do not contribute a dime to sports or any gambling harm prevention services.

“Rather than dismissing the issue, regulators and government must exercise extreme caution and resist blanket, intrusive, low-level affordability reviews that are pushing even more players into these dangerous places.”

He praised the research by Yield Sec, a US-based licensed gaming marketplace.