Black market gaming site traffic triples in 2022 World Cup.

Referring to Yield Sec's research, the BGC observed that, in December alone, 250,000 users visited black market sites, compared to 80,000 during the same month in 2021. With last month's World Cup included, the study sought to estimate the extent of black market gaming by 2022.

While peaks in traffic to black market sites occurred in March and June, during which major horseracing events took place at Cheltenham and Ascot respectively, the research also revealed online traffic to sites advertising services to problem gamblers who had self-excluded from UK operators climbed by 83%.

"This study reveals the great risk the expanding dangerous, illegal black market presents to punters," stated BGC CEO Michael Dugher.

Black market operators were feeding on the weak while the regulated sector was going to great pains to safeguard young people during the World Cup and following stringent rules and encouraging safer gambling.

"This data shows the World Cup drove a range of concerning gambling trends in the UK - not in the regulated sector as predicted by anti-gambling prohibitionists - but in the unsafe, unregulated black market online."

With about 148,000 consumers using black market sites per month, the BGC further revealed that the number of visits from the UK climbed by 46% in 2022.

To stop problem gambling and fraud, licenced UK operators have to follow rigorous identity and age verification procedures; unlicensed, black market operators lack such checks.

"This trend of increased illegal gambling activity during prominent sporting events reflects the always present threat that illegal operators pose to players and the audience," Yield Sec Founder and CEO Ismail Vali said.