The initiative is part of a broader industry campaign aimed at highlighting the risks associated with unregulated gambling platforms.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has unveiled a new interactive online quiz called “Spot The Black Market”, designed to help players recognise the difference between licensed gambling websites and illegal operators.
The tool forms part of the organisation’s wider efforts to combat the growth of the gambling black market in the UK.
The quiz shows participants a series of mock screenshots resembling gambling websites and asks them to determine which platforms are legitimate and which are operating without a licence.
According to the BGC, the exercise demonstrates how illegal operators often imitate the branding, design and layout of regulated companies, making it difficult for players to spot the difference and potentially exposing them to sites that lack consumer protections.
The interactive format also highlights common warning signs associated with unlicensed platforms.
These include the absence of a visible UK Gambling Commission licence number, questionable payment methods, and unclear or suspicious terms and conditions.
Research from other regulated European markets, including Sweden, suggests that many players struggle to distinguish between legal and illegal gambling websites.
Unlike licensed operators, illegal gambling sites do not contribute to UK tax revenue or support the country’s sporting sector. The BGC estimates the regulated gambling industry contributes around £6.8 billion ($9.1 billion) annually to the UK economy and supports approximately 109,000 jobs.
However, research commissioned by the organisation in 2024 indicated that as much as £2.7 billion may be wagered each year on black market gambling sites in the UK.
Concerns about declining channelisation, the rate at which players use licensed platforms, have recently been discussed in parliament.
The issue resurfaced during a debate in January following the government’s announcement of higher remote gaming taxes in November.
Some policymakers warned that rising costs for operators and players could push more gamblers toward unregulated platforms.
The BGC says “Spot The Black Market” forms part of a wider public awareness initiative aimed at helping consumers stay within the regulated market while protecting them from the risks associated with illegal gambling websites.