BGC CEO Grainne Hurst Urges Meta, Google to Join Fight Against UK Black Market Gambling

Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), has directly reached out to global tech giants like Meta and Google, urging them to join the fight against the UK’s burgeoning black market gambling industry. In an open letter, Hurst highlighted how illegal gambling operations are thriving across social media platforms, search engines, and digital advertising networks, aggressively targeting British consumers.

The BGC emphasized that the most vulnerable individuals—those who have self-excluded or are seeking support for gambling-related issues—are particularly at risk from these unregulated operators. Hurst stressed that illegal gambling sites operate without licenses, fail to comply with UK regulations, and do not contribute to research, prevention, or treatment efforts. “These illegal operators are not part of the regulated gambling industry. They are not licensed by the Gambling Commission. They do not follow British rules. They do not carry out the checks required to protect customers. They do not contribute to research, prevention and treatment. They do not pay UK tax,” she stated.

Hurst referenced a speech by Tim Miller, Director of Research and Policy at the Gambling Commission, who earlier this year called on tech companies to take a stronger stance against black market operators. Miller highlighted how users can easily access lists of unlicensed gambling operators through simple online searches.

“The uncomfortable truth is that this content is still readily available, despite the extraordinary technological capabilities at your disposal,” Hurst added, pointing to the advanced tools available to tech firms, including data vaults, artificial intelligence, and illegal content detection systems.

Market data from World Advertising Research Center (WARC) predicts that illegal gambling advertising spend in Britain could surpass that of the regulated sector by as early as 2028. Meanwhile, H2 Gambling Capital forecasts that stakes with black market operators could double from £17 billion today to £33 billion by 2028.

Hurst outlined specific measures tech companies could take to combat illegal gambling, including proactively identifying and removing illegal ads, investing more in detecting black market operators, and collaborating with law enforcement and regulators. She also called for greater transparency in enforcement activities and a coordinated effort to protect vulnerable consumers.

“The regulated betting and gaming industry, regulators, law enforcement, and technology companies all have a role to play,” Hurst concluded. “We stand ready to work with every platform willing to help protect consumers, disrupt illegal operators, and ensure the online ecosystem is not used as a gateway to gambling harm.”