Summary:

According to a survey for the BGC, 67 per cent of people think that compulsory spending limits on betting could lead to more people going to the black market. 64 per cent of the public fear that increased use of illegal sites would lead to a rise in problem gambling rates, as well as 67 per cent saying compulsory limits risked pushing them to the growing gambling black market.

There are two thirds of people who believe that the limits on betting in the state of New York would cause a rise in the black market

More people will go to the black market if spending limits on betting are compulsory, according to 67 per cent of gamblers.

As the Government considers a review of Gambling laws, a new YouGov survey shows the concerns of regular gamblers.

64 per cent of the public fear that increased use of illegal sites would lead to a rise in problem gambling rates, as well as 67 per cent saying compulsory limits risked pushing them to the growing gambling black market.

Nearly 70 per cent of people who place a bet said they wouldn’t allow regulated betting and gaming firms to carry out compulsory affordability checks to prove they can afford to wager, which has been called for by anti-gambling campaigners to tackle problem gambling.

In the last few years, the number of people gambling on unsafe black market sites in the UK has doubled and the amount of money staked is in the billions.

The rate of problem gambling among adults in the UK remains low by international standards, with the latest figures from the Gambling Commission showing a decrease from the previous year.

The BGC’s chief executive said that the YouGov polling was important for ministers to consider as they prepare to publish the gambling white paper.

He urged the Government to make sure that they strike the right balance between protecting the vulnerable and not driving the overwhelming majority who bet safely and responsibly towards the unsafe unregulated black market online.

The Gambling Review is a further opportunity to raise standards and promote safer gambling.

The risks of getting this wrong by introducing arbitrary blanket spending checks on anyone who likes a flutter are an important reminder of the fact that ministers have always said it will be an evidence-led process.

Any changes introduced by the Government should be carefully targeted so that we protect the vulnerable and intervene on those showing signs of harm, whilst not driving the vast majority of millions of people who bet safely towards the growing unsafe black market online, where there are none of the safer gambling protections used by B

There are thousands of illegal gambling websites that don’t adhere to the strict standards in the licensed and regulated sector.

Targeting problem gamblers, not carrying out strict ID and age verification checks, and offering a range of safer gambling tools are some of the things that this includes.

If customers are showing signs of problem gambling, regulated operators will intervene.

The BGC believes that the focus should be on problem gamblers or people at risk rather than everyone who bets.