GAMBLING addicts, children and unassuming punters are being lured on to black market betting sites, The Sun can reveal.
Seemingly innocent-looking games tempt them in with offers of free flutters and big cashpots.
GettyGambling addicts, children and unassuming punters are being lured on to black market betting sites, The Sun can reveal[/caption]
SuppliedSeemingly innocent-looking games tempt them in with offers of free flutters and big cashpots[/caption]
Customers complain that many of these unregulated sites refuse to pay out winnings or return funds
But customers complain that many of these unregulated sites refuse to pay out winnings or return funds.
And while users of licensed online slot games are restricted to a £5 bet per spin, these illicit ones let people blow £2,000 a time.
The dodgy sites — which are registered all over the world, including Estonia, the US and Cyprus — dazzle UK players with brightly coloured virtual fruit machines, roulette wheels or straight sports bets.
Some use vibrant characters which mimic legal and totally innocent games such as Candy Crush to draw people in.
One overseas operations was willing to take money from a user registered as being just seven years old, while others accepted made-up identities, including a known terrorist.
Our findings follow new research that shows illegal operators have tripled their share of the British gambling market in the past three years.
The report by Yield Sec estimates that black market sites earned £379million in the first six months of 2025.
Shockingly, there is evidence that registered gambling addicts are deliberately being targeted.
‘Depressed and suicidal’
One woman, who had to sell her sofa and television in order to feed her children, told The Sun how she had a breakdown after blowing £15,000 on unlicensed online slots in the past year.
The 44-year-old mother-of-four was able to play despite being registered with GamStop, a scheme that aims to prevent addicts betting.
And the businesswoman from near Newcastle, who wishes to be anonymous, says that when she tried to stop her spending spiralling further out of control, some sites were less than helpful.
She explains: “I told them I’ve got a gambling problem. That it leaves me very depressed and suicidal and I said, ‘I’ve got children. I’ve spent all my money for the month. I’ve got children to feed’.
“And I said, ‘Please, please, can you close my account permanently’. Some did, some didn’t. The ones that did close them said ‘If you want your account open, please let us know.”
And she is not alone, because according to polling giant Ipsos, eight per cent of people who have registered with GamStop have used black market betting.
You might imagine these virtual casinos can only be accessed from Britain via the dark web or a virtual private network to make it appear that you are in a different country.
But games linked to all of these overseas operations, which are not licensed by the UK’s Gambling Commission, can easily be downloaded.
Unregulated games lure gamblers with colourful scenesSupplied
A couple of games appeared on Apple’s App Store, though the tech giant removed them after they were flagged by The SunSupplied
Most were accessible through the Google search engineSupplied
A couple of them appeared on Apple’s App Store, though the tech giant removed them after they were flagged by The Sun.
Elsewhere, most were accessible through the Google search engine.
Some are advertised on social media or pop up when playing legitimate family games online. And influencers are openly promoting non-GamStop games to their followers.
Australia and Sweden are cracking down on unlicensed betting sites by blocking or fining them. In Britain, though, they appear to be on the rise.
Campaigner Jordan Lea, a former addict who helps others overcome their habit via his Deal Me Out organisation, says: “We are seeing exponential black market growth, targeting not just general consumers, but also the most vulnerable people.
“People who have to exclude themselves are being tricked into playing again.
I told them I’ve got a gambling problem. That it leaves me very depressed and suicidal and I said, ‘I’ve got children. I’ve spent all my money for the month. I’ve got children to feed’
Anonymous mum
“They have taken over old domain names from high street firms and when people click on them, they push illegal sites.”
Deal Me Out conducted research earlier this year to see how many people in Britain were making wagers on the black market.
They interviewed over 1,250 kids, 300 adults and ten gambling content creators.
One respondent told how he had deposited £129,000 in a fortnight on these sites, even though he was on Universal Credit.
The survey estimates that 420,000 children in Britain might have tried unregulated gambling.
It would certainly be easy for kids to access an online casino called GodOdds.com.
And I said, ‘Please, please, can you close my account permanently’. Some did, some didn’t. The ones that did close them said ‘If you want your account open, please let us know
Anonymous mum
Investigator Alex Wood set up an account pretending to be a seven-year-old and was able to put a bet on a basketball game.
Alex, a convicted fraudster now working to prevent such crime, began probing the problem after being bombarded with “Not on GamStop” ads while playing non-betting games downloaded from Apple’s App Store.
He was then commissioned by Paddy Power and Sky Bet owner Flutter UKI to investigate the UK black market.
Alex was shocked by how easy it was to register and play with a fake identity. When he signed up for slotsdynamite.com, he used the photograph, name and date of birth of wanted terrorist Sajid Mir.
Any legitimate UK firm has to check users and to prevent illegal activity such as money laundering.
A report by the Gambling Commission last week warned that “accidental tourists” are pulled into unlicensed sites by influencers and links on social media.
We are seeing exponential black market growth, targeting not just general consumers, but also the most vulnerable people
Jordan Lea
The illegal ones provide their own gambling “advice”, while they pretend to be legitimate by putting links to “responsible gaming” help pages.
The Newcastle mum confirmed how easy it is to be tricked into trying them out. She used to bet “until there was nothing left” when she first tried online slots in 2014 and signed up for GamStop three years later.
This quelled her addiction until she saw “Non GamStop Casinos UK players welcome” being mentioned on Google a year ago.
She explains: “I had come across these sites, which I didn’t know about because I hadn’t been gambling for that long.
‘Aggressive tactics’
“I thought they must have changed the way things work now. I thought this must be something new and started putting ridiculous amounts in.”
All registered UK gambling operators have to sign up to GamStop, so these firms broke the rules by even allowing her to set up an account.
fpnw.co.uk©2024Jordan Lea said: ‘Black market sites are ruining lives and a lot more needs to be done to stop them’[/caption]
The more she lost, the more determined she was to claw the money back. She continues: “It’s caused me sleepless nights. It’s affected my children. I haven’t been able to feed them. I’ve had to go around and try and find stuff in the house to sell.
“It’s absolutely soul-destroying. I was in my bedroom for two days because I couldn’t face the reality of what I had done.
“I was disgusted with myself. The guilt was eating me up. It’s not just an addiction, it’s an illness.”
When she tried to close her accounts, some of the firms insisted she sent over identity documents, including her passport. But after she complied with all their demands, some still did not return money left in her online pot.
Many gamblers complain that the illegal sites do not pay out when they win and refuse to return any money left in their accounts.
When Alex tried to remove his remaining funds on a site called Lucky Wave, he was told he needed to put in £10,000 in order to get his initial deposit back.
The threat posed by illegal gambling platforms remains significant and deeply concerning
GamStop spokesperson
A spokesperson from GamStop says: “The threat posed by illegal gambling platforms remains significant and deeply concerning.
“These sites operate outside the UK’s licensing framework, meaning they are not subject to the strict consumer protection standards enforced by the Gambling Commission.
“As a result, they are free to deploy aggressive, manipulative tactics to entice users, control their behaviour and maximise their financial expenditure, often targeting vulnerable individuals.”
Jordan, who was in favour of tighter gambling laws, is now worried tougher controls and higher taxes may drive addicts towards illicit sites.
He says: “I think some of the regulations caused a migration to the black market. There is no tax on the black market.”
The Gambling Commission plans to research whether tougher checks on players’ finances could drive more people towards unregulated sites.
It’s caused me sleepless nights. It’s affected my children. I haven’t been able to feed them. I’ve had to go around and try and find stuff in the house to sell
Anonymous mum
Since April 2024, the watchdog has issued over 2,000 cease and desist or disruption notices to websites.
Its director of enforcement, John Pierce, says: “We are committed to disrupting the unlicensed gambling market by working in close partnership with technology platforms, search engines, hosting providers, domain registrars, payment services and advertisers.”
GodOdds.com, slotsdynamite.com and Lucky Wave did not respond to our request for comment.
The UK’s proposed Crime and Policing Bill will grant the Gambling Commission enhanced powers to take down illegal gambling websites.
A Google spokesperson says: “Google removes content from search results that violate our product and content policies.”
But there won’t be much to stop them popping up again under new names.
Jordan concludes: “Black market sites are ruining lives and a lot more needs to be done to stop them.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling-related problems, contact the National Gambling Helpline via their website or on 0808 8020 133. Calls are free and lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
SIGNS OF A PROBLEM
GAMBLE Aware statistics reveal one in four people knows someone who has experienced gambling harms.
Here are the warning signs to be aware of.
INCREASED ACTIVITY: Spending more time or money on gambling when you can’t afford it. Often, this occurs when trying to cut down or stop gambling entirely.
CHASING LOSSES: Trying to win back money after losing, especially after taking a big hit. This often leads to bigger losses.
MOOD CHANGE: Guilt, shame, depression, anxiety and low-self esteem can lead to an increase in gambling. Some people feel they have little or no control over it.
INCREASED FIXATION: You may talk or think about gambling more than other aspects of your life. This can lead to relationship and work problems, trouble concentrating, loss of interest in other activities and neglecting personal responsibilities.
CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS: Problematic gambling can lead to difficulties at work, in personal relationships and social life. The individual may seem out of character or be more distant or quiet than normal.
DECEIVING OTHERS: Some keep their gambling a secret amid fear of being judged and feel shame over their actions. This can lead to more cash losses and extra time spent doing it.
For help, call GamCare’s 24-7 National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 for people in Great Britain, or 1800 936 725 in Ireland.
Alternatively, visit gambleaware.org, where you can find support groups and have a live chat with someone who can help.
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