Almost one in two adults in Great Britain placed a bet in the last month, just as regulators and politicians warn that tax hikes and crypto-fuelled black markets could reshape the gambling landscape. UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) chief Andrew Rhodes told the International Gaming Congress in Madrid that 48% of Britons had gambled in the previous four weeks, with the market generating around £15.6bn in gross gambling yield, or £11.5bn excluding lottery.
Online gambling continues to power growth, with GGY up more than 7% between 2023 and 2024 and online casino alone contributing roughly £4.4bn. Rhodes highlighted the twin challenge of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies, noting that crypto is already a “very dominant” payment method among under-40s. High-intensity players typically hold six to nine active accounts, and when licensed operators tighten affordability checks or stake limits, a growing cohort simply migrates to offshore, unlicensed sites.
Legal operators also face UX pressure from the black market. Industry voices such as Andy Danson and David Da Silva warn that frictionless onboarding and minimal KYC on illegal sites drive huge conversion, while regulated brands are pushed toward ever more intrusive checks in the name of player protection and AML.
Beyond Britain, Gibraltar fears collateral damage. Finance Minister Nigel Feetham has warned that higher UK gambling and remote gaming taxes could strip up to £160m a year from Gibraltar’s tax base and put thousands of jobs at risk.
